UNHCR-NGO Annual Consultation
June 11-13, 2013
Closing Remarks by NGO Rapporteur Karina Sarmiento
Photo by UNHCR/ Jean-Marc Ferré
It’s an honor for me to act as the Annual Consultations Rapporteur this year.
I would like to start by thanking the ICVA and UNHCR, particularly, the Interagency Unit, the
Department of External Relations, the Regional Bureaus and the International Department of
Protection and others who have worked to put together this consultation. As well as, all civil
society organizations, which make a great effort each year to respond to this call for participation
and dialogue. All of us here are working together for refugees and asylum seekers, committed to
making their rights a reality, no matter where we work.
My role as rapporteur begins here at the consultations and it will continue until the conclusions
are passed on to government representatives during the EXCOM in the last term of this year.
Before then, the final report will be shared with you all, and I invite you to contribute with your
feedback and suggestions.
Here, I would like to thank Jessie Thompson, vice-rapporteur for sharing this role with me, as
well as the student of Northwestern University from the United States and my colleagues at
Asylum Access who have supported me in this role.
Here in this short time, I would like to present the main points that have arisen in these three
days.
This year’s main theme: Advocating together for protection has guided much of the
discussion, showing us the necessity of working together to build sustainable processes for
protection and helping us to understand durable solutions as a comprehensive and holistic
response to all human needs of refugees, as persons with rights. Our discussions during these
past few days have presented us with examples, advocacy where UNHCR, civil society and
refugees themselves, can work together to achieve optimal results, but also has pointed out
situations where this partnership for advocacy is not there yet, but needs to be implemented.
To advocate together implies to be on equal terms, understanding our different roles, strengths
and weakness, but above all understanding how we can complement one another.
The consultations covered 5 regional sessions and 9 thematic sessions, covering Internal
Displacement, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Statelessness, the Partnership framework,
Protection of Children, National Asylum Systems, Refugee Resettlement and Detention.
And several side events taking place during the lunch break and early morning, such as the side
event on Faith and Protection as a follow up to the High Commissioner dialogue on Protection
Challenges, advocating together to protect statelessness Rohingya, Cash based interventions in
UNHCR operations, RSD Determination process in Latin America, and today we still have the
screening of the movie Refugees: sexual orientation and gender identity.
For the purpose of this presentation, I have made a preliminary summary of the main
conclusions of each session.
Regional Sessions:
MENA: The discussion centered on current conflicts in the region, with particular focus on
Syria and the implications of this conflict in terms of protection, coordination, resource
optimization, involvement of local NGOs and ensuring that other emergencies in the region are
not overlooked.
The Americas session looked into developing a multi-faceted integrated advocacy strategy,
including political and legal responses, for protection of persons with specific needs: LGBTI,
indigenous people and Afro-descendants. It also discussed using the 30th Anniversary of the
Cartagena Declaration to address protection gaps and provide effective responses.
The Africa session focused on the use of new tools for protection through a discussion of
strategic litigation to protect urban refugees in Kenya, durable solutions for Rwandan refugees,
an overview of the global strategic priorities in Africa, and the difficulty presented by unstable
funding streams.
Asia and the Pacific: This session discussed the need to think creatively about urban refugees,
including local integration, access to work permits and participation in the labor economy. The
Asia Bureau renewed a commitment toward women and children, and the SGBV framework,
especially in the urban context.
Europe: Focused on the challenges and responses imposed by mixed movements of refugees
THEMATIC SESSIONS:
Statelessness - Recommendations/Conclusions:
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Speakers discussed developing global and regional networks to build a more proactive
movement to eradicate statelessness and the need to engage with stateless communities to
highlight the ‘human face of statelessness.’
NGOs and UNHCR were recommended to participate in international fora to influence
States to take action on statelessness to in the OHCHR report on arbitrary deprivation of
nationality, contribute to the post-2015 Millenium Development work and participate in
other international fora (such as the UPR process, and treaty body sessions).
Internally Displaced Persons - Recommendations/Conclusions:
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Speakers acknowledged that the number of IDPs worldwide is not declining, with increasing
numbers of IDPs living in situations of protracted or cyclical displacement, in need of a
durable solution.
It was recommended that IDPs be considered in the broader context of forced migration, and
include development agencies early on in advocacy efforts and that
Advocacy needs to focus on local contexts, and should include the empowerment of IDPs to
advocate for their own rights and participate in the determination of their own future.
Sexual gender based violence - Recommendations/Conclusions:
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This session identified that multi-sectoral actors must recognize SGBV prevention and
response as life-saving interventions and should be involved in both activities from the onset
of an emergency.
The discussion noted the need for men, boys and other marginalized groups of survivors to have
access to SGBV services, as well as the important role that cultural factors play in SGBV and
how they are exacerbated by the context of displacement.
Protection of Children: in Emergencies and Mixed Migration flows
Recommendations/Conclusions:
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Given the high percentage of children in camps, there needs to be a paradigm shift within
UNHCR. Child protection risks and gaps must be addressed from the outset of emergencies,
developing comprehensive protection systems that are sustainable and incorporate a clear
solutions oriented approach
The issues of education, SGBV programs, family reunification and identification of
trafficked children were identified as major protection concerns.
Strengthening the Implementing Partnership framework
Recommendations/Conclusions
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NGOs voiced appreciation for the highly consultative approach being undertaken to enhance
the Framework for Implementation with Partners. Important to continue with a partnership
orientated approach versus a process orientated approach.
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Partnership with national/local NGOs and community based organizations are becoming
increasingly important in providing protection and assistance to refugees and other persons
of concern. UNHCR’s recognition of this and drive to partner with national/local NGOs
demonstrated by the steep growth over the past 10 years of partnering with national/local
NGOs for project implementation.
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UNHCR should continue to consult and keep partners informed on initiatives related to
enhancing the Framework for Implementation with Partners
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Partnership in focus:
Recommendations/Conclusions
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NGOs expressed high appreciation for the HC’s structured dialogue on partnership and
consultative development and identified the need to undertake regional and country level
consultations on these topics in the years ahead.
NGOs welcomed the emphasis on feedback and the effort to clarify and standardize
partnership approaches, but cautioned against a framework that becomes too heavy on
process
The session explored ways for UNHCR and INGOs to support local partners, particularly
in urban settings and the need for south-south capacity building
National Asylum Systems:
As concluded remarks some basic fundamental elements of building quality national asylum
system, were defined:
1 - Ensure access to territory and follow non-refoulement
2 - No arbitrary detention.
3 - Insure access to RSD- fair and effective process and due process.
4 - Enjoinments of rights and other human rights system.
5 - Developing durable solutions.
Refugee Resettlement:
UNHCR and NGO partners highlighted that successful resettlement referral systems are built on
collaboration, information sharing and knowledge of the vulnerabilities and specific needs of
refugees and that partner referrals are equally as important as cases directly identified by
UNHCR. Partners highlighted their role in resettlement referrals and the particular challenges of
acting as the ‘interface’ between refugee populations and UNHCR, particularly given the high
demand for resettlement and the very limited resettlement opportunities. Long delays in
resettlement processing and difficulty in accessing information about resettlement were
highlighted as central concerns.
Immigration Detention:
UNHCR and NGO partners acknowledged that detention remains a global problem. Partners
highlighted the increased use of detention, despite the growing evidence regarding alternatives to
detention. Partners outlined alternative models and emphasized value of mechanism to prevent
unnecessary detention for governments and communities.
From here to the next consultations actions need to be taken to advocate together
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As the High Commissioner said, “Working together requires open communication and
information, and reconfirmed that we strive from mutual respect, trust, transparency and
understanding, while recognizing that there are both complementarities and distinctions
between our mandates and positions”
2014 will bring us important opportunities:
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It will be 10 years since the humanitarian reform in 2004. This is an opportunity to take stock
of key achievements and identify gaps to bridge, ultimately building a humanitarian
institutional system that provides a more predictable approach to internal displacement.
The 60th anniversary of the 1954 Statelessness Convention
The 30th anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration, an emblematic regional instrument that
expand the protection space
Now that we've had these discussions and taken a step forward in understanding what needs to
be done and particularly, HOW – ADVOCATING TOGETHER - let's take action. Let us use
these recommendations as a living document and let's work to apply these within our
communities and our sphere of work.
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