BUREAU FOR EUROPE - COUNTRY PROFILE - BELARUS - August 2007
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| Basic Information | Population: 9,724,723 (July 2007 est.), Net migration rate: 0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.), Official languages: Belarusian and Russian |
| UNHCR presence | UNHCR Representation in Belarus |
| 1951 Refugee Convention | Party since 23 August 2001 |
| 1967 Protocol | Party since 23 August 2001 |
| 1954 Stateless Persons Convention | Not party |
| 1961 Reduction of Statelessness Convention | Not party |
| UNHCR Representation | Representative (Todorovic, P-4), 1 international staff, 3 national staff, 3 general staff |
| Government Counterparts | Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Committee on Border Troops (SCBT), Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Regional Executive Committees |
| Implementing Partners | Belarusian Red Cross (BRC),Belarusian Movement of Medical Workers BMMW), Center for Children and Adolescents 'Evrika', IPA 'Evolutio', IPA Independent Social Support (ISS), State Employment Service |
| Other Partners | IOM, UNDP, UNFPA, UNDPI, SMB, ECRE, OSCE, Belarusian State University, Minsk Bar Assoc |
| Contributions in 2007 (as at 31 July in 2007) | N/A |
| Contributions in 2006 | N/A |
| Level of contributions to UNHCR in 2006 | Donor Ranking:N/A
Per Capita:N/A
Per GDP:N/A |
| Number of Refugees | 798 (aprox: AFG: 70%, GEO: 16%, AZE: 4 %Other: 10%) in mid-2007 |
| 796 (aprox:AFG: 74%, GEO: 15%, AZE: 4% Other: 7%) in 2006 |
| Number of Asylum Seekers | 13 (AFG: 8, GEO: 2, Other: 3) in 2007 (i.e. those without a final RSD decision) |
| 23 (AFG:9, BGD:4, GEO: 3, Other: 7) in 2006 (i.e. those without a final RSD decision) |
| Recognition Rate in 2006 | 7% (Refugee status) n/a in 2007 |
| 17% (Other status) n/a in 2007 |
| Number of IDPs | N/A |
| Number of Stateless Persons in 2006 | 8 886 |
| Office Strategic Objectives | Securing full and unhindered access to territory and asylum - Securing protection against refoulement-Advocating for and supporting appropriate policies, legislation and practices on asylum and statelessness -Assisting in the development of quality RSD - Protecting against abuse, SGBV, exploitation - Ensuring border-monitoring - Developing the Governments capacity, including improvement in reception facilities - Ensuring adherence to international protection standards and development of gender and age sensitive asylum systems - Supporting COI system development - Fostering of effective action to prevent and reduce situations of statelessness- Promoting increasing resettlement opportunities- Promote integration measures for recognized refugees - Assisting refugees in voluntary repatriation - Ensuring border monitoring with coordination of all actors/partners and developing partnership with IOM - Strengthening the protection of refugees within broader migration movements- Addressing detention of asylum-seekers and refugees- Supporting the Söderköping and Budapest Processes and EA Programme and developing strategic partnership on migration-
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| Working with the Governments, NGOs and other to implement the UNHCR document Agenda for Protection and “Refugee Protection and Mixed Migration: a 10-Point-Plan of Action” as well as of its Plan for Implementation at the EU Eastern Border (to be developed in 2007). |
| Main Activities of UNHCR | Lobbying and advocacy for effective asylum systems and legislation further in line with international standards (The new Law on refugees to be adopted in 2007); Monitoring of situation of asylum seekers and refugees; - Border monitoring - Engagement in Asylum-Migration dialogue; - Cross-border cooperation including Söderköping, Budapest Processes, EAP; - Training for government officials dealing with asylum issues and RSD; - Capacity building of govt and NGos; - Assistance in finding durable solutions; Direct legal a social assistance to asylum seekers and refugees as well as stateless persons; - PI activities aimed at combating racism and xenophobia |
| Protection Concerns | Asylum related legislation and implementation falling short of international standards; Access to territory and lack of border monitoring procedures; quality of RSD procedures; conditions of reception; Undocumented asylum seekers and lack of identification procedures; lack of Convention travel document; need for greater advocacy and training; lack of State integration programs for refugees. |
| Operations/Programs | BRC: Awareness raising on STIs/HIV, social counseling, distribution of monthly financial assistance to most vulnerable ASs, organization of language classes, establishing social enterprisesLI projects. BMMW: Legal counseling/assistance. IPA ISS: Running of community women's club/interest group. Center 'Evrika': Provision of educational, psychological support for refugee children, vocational training IPA 'Evolutio': PA/PI activities. State Employment Service: Establishment of a sewing shop, provision of related vocational training. In addition, UNHCR office carrying out two EC-cofunded projects: TACIS on asylum capacity building (2005-7) and AENEAS on border monitoring (2007-9). |
| Repatriation | UNHCR continued successfully to carry out limited voluntary repatriation of qualified cases in view of the absence of the state procedure for return. In 2007: UNHCR Minsk facilitated voluntary repatriation of 7 asylum-seekers from Afghanistan. 5 persons were returned through EU/UNHCR/IOM program on Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR). |
| Local Integration | Integration-related assistance provided by the state is quite limited due to a general poor social and economic situation in the country. Access to lawful employment is difficult due to lack of recognition of diplomas, qualifications which do not match the market demand, discrimination, lack of awareness of employers of refugees rights. In 2003-7, UNHCR implemented several LI projects to help refugees become self-reliant including 2 successful refugee-run Social Enterprises in Gomel and Grodna. |
| Resettlement | In 2007: 24 persons/10 cases (23 persons/9 cases from Afghanistan and 1 person/1case from Turkmenistan) will depart to Canada by the end of September 2007 (accepted in 2006).
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Key contacts at the Permanent Mission in
Geneva | Tel:022 748 2450 Email: mission.belarus@ties.itu.int |
