CONFIDENTIAL
37TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF UNHCR
BRIEF 3(B): DURABLE SOLUTIONS
Fic contribution
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LINE TO TAKE
1. Agree that voluntary and safe repatriation is the best possible
solution. Must encourage states from which refugees have fled to create a suitable climate for them to return voluntarily
(eg observance of human rights, sensible economic policies).
2.
When above not possible in the foreseeable future must look for
other, acceptable and durable solutions. Assimilation into a country in the region (often a neighbouring country of the country of first asylum) with a similar cultural and linguistic background or with which the refugee group has strong family or historical links least traumatic for the refugees (and recipient government) and most efficient (cheaper on training and travel).
3. When neither of above possible (eg because there are too many refugees for the region to absorb) agree that international community should help share the burden. By accepting refugees for resettlement in third (and often distant) countries or by helping to→ support refugee camps until the conditions for voluntary
repatriationexist.
4.
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Perpetration of refugee camps over a long period not good.
[Experience in the Middle East show how they can breed hatred and
destabilise host countries or even the region. Therefore must strive to achieve durable solutions as soon as possible.
BACKGROUND
5.
Paragraphs 84-94 of Ref A contain the relevant background.
6. The UK only accepts responsibility for refugees who seek asylum
once in the UK and who have no other, more suitable, safe country of asylum in which to stay. We are generally against accepting quotas of refugees from a given country (because of our restrieive
immigration polieiest but deal with applications for asylum as
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CONFIDENTIAL
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