CONFIDENTIAL
015116
MDHIA 2486
:
3. THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL SOON START MAKING REFERRALS TO THE UNHCR OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS (ACCORDING TO OUR, NOT THE UNHCR, DEFINITION) WHO ARE BELOW THE AGE OF 16 AT THE DATE OF ARRIVAL. THOSE CASES WITH OBVIOUS GROUNDS FOR RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS WILL BE PROCESSED WITH PRIORITY. OTHER CASES WILL BE HELD PENDING RECEIPT OF A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE WILL BE AN ADVISORY ONE BUT UNHCR MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISION ON WHETHER A MINOR SHOULD BE REPATRIATED OR NOT BY APPLYING ITS MANDATE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT UNHCR HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE (ISS), FOR CASE FILES OF MINORS UNDER 16 TO BE DRAWN UP BY ISS FOR THE USE OF THE COMMITTEE IN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.
4. THE UNHCR HAVE YET TO REPLY TO US ON THE UNRESOLVED ISSUES AND HAVE YET TO INFORM US OF ANY TIMEFRAME FOR THE COMMITTEE TO BEGIN WORK. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DELAYS IN DEVISING AGREED PROCEDURES FOR ALL UNACCOMPANIED MINORS. WHILE WE BELIEVE IT UNLIKELY THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL RECOMMEND REPATRIATION IN 90 PER CENT OF CASES, THE PROBLEM WILL REMAIN THAT UNHCR LOCALLY APPEARS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH A RECOMMENDATION. THE ONLY EARLY PROGRESS WE SEE AS LIKELY WILL BE ON CASES WHERE THERE ARE STRONG GROUNDS FOR RESETTLEMENT.
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