2017
In 2017, UNHCR will renew its focus on durable solutions, while at the same time continuing to make significant efforts on asylum system capacity-building and improving the protection environment. These efforts will require significant advocacy and training activities.
Principle strategic directions will be:
- Renewed focus on durable solutions for refugees through the promotion of proper reception conditions, self-reliance and local integration of refugees; and enhanced resettlement in view of acute resettlement needs.
- Ensuring unhindered access to the territory for people in need of international protection and prevention of refoulement.
- Continued support to the Government’s efforts to an build asylum system that meets international, EU and ECHR standards; focus on building capacity of the SMS, SBGS and Judiciary.
- Continued support to the Government’s efforts to bring Ukraine’s asylum-related legislation in line with international and EU standards; focus on refugee law, reception of asylum seekers, reception of unaccompanied minors (UAMs), periodic judicial review of detention and alternatives to detention.
- Removal of remaining gaps in documentation of people of concern, including issuance and use of TDs.
- Provide adequate protection to vulnerable people of concern, including UAMs, through protection interventions and direct provision of material and medical assistance.
- Improvement of reception conditions, the social welfare system, and access to available state services; through protection interventions and direct provision of material and medical assistance.
- Enhancement of two-way communication with people of concern, on their rights and obligations in Ukraine and UNHCR providing a realistic understanding of their context and concerns.
- Increased tolerance of refugees by the local population of Ukraine.
- Together with relevant agencies such as IOM, engage in contingency planning with the Government to properly manage a possible increase of new arrivals.
UNHCR will ensure that all activities are carried out on the basis of AGDM methodology and in close consultation with people of concern, relevant authorities and NGOs.
By the end of 2017, UNHCR expects that following a verification exercise the quality of data on the refugee population in Ukraine will be improved, consolidated and up-to-date.
Assumptions and constraints:
- The political, security and economic situation in Ukraine will remain unstable.
- SMS and judicial authorities of Ukraine will remain engaged in improving the quality of the asylum system and refugee legislation.
- SBGS will become more open for cooperation, though access to the territory and monitoring will remain restricted; the need for direct protection interventions by UNHCR will continue.
- Asylum seekers will still be detained regularly in immigration detention. The need of continued monitoring of immigration detention facilities and the readmission process will remain.
- The quality of government free legal aid will not be sufficient for UNHCR and its partners to cease provision of legal assistance.
- Mixed-migration flows, including increasing numbers of applicants with sensitive profiles and those involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, will further require UNHCR attention.
- Lack of political will and resources from the government to improve local integration and self-reliance. The need for direct social support by UNHCR to the most vulnerable people of concern will remain.
- The Government may still pursue opening of the TAC at Yagotyn and UNHCR will have to provide support in establishing a favourable protection and reception environment at the centre and in the local community.
- Security of asylum-seekers and refugees may seriously deteriorate due to an increased level of xenophobic attitudes.