Consultations on Strengthening Collaboration Between UNHCR and Humanitarian and Human Rights NGOs in Support of the International Refugee Protection System

Peterson Hall, Council on Foreign Relations
New York, March 11 - 12, 1999

Agenda

Moderator: Mr. Arne Piel Christensen, former Secretary-General, Danish Refugee Council
Rapporteurs: Ms. Rachael Reilly, Human Rights Watch and Ms. Margaret Green, International Rescue Committee

Thursday, 11 March
(Peterson Hall)

How do NGOs and UNHCR, from their distinctive perspectives, view the current state of their collaboration on protection issues? Where do the principal problems lie? What should we do together to more effectively defend and uphold the international refugee protection system?

Opening statements by Mr. Dennis McNamara, UNHCR and Mr. Robert DeVecchi, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, followed by discussion.

How should NGOs and UNHCR improve collaboration on advocacy and promotion of protection principles in general, including for enhanced state compliance with the basic precepts and standards of refugee law?

Would NGOs be prepared to join UNHCR in a worldwide campaign on accessions to the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol, the OAU Refugee Convention and the Conventions on Stateless Persons and on the Reduction of Statelessness, as well as join efforts to persuade states to enact enabling legislation and put in place necessary implementing arrangements? How should we proceed?

Are other kinds of joint monitoring or promotional activities needed at a global level? If so, what are the priorities and how should such activities be undertaken?

What can UNHCR and international NGOs do jointly or complementarily, to more effectively support the efforts and enhance the capacity of national NGOs concerned with refugee rights?

How can NGOs and UNHCR collaborate more effectively to promote the positive development of refugee protection principles, including through the EXCOM process.

Opening statements by Mr. Pierre Sané, Amnesty International, Ms. Mary Diaz, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children and Mr. Michael Posner, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, followed by discussion.

When asylum-seekers or refugees are at risk, whether from state or non-state actors, how can humanitarian and human rights NGOs, in their different ways, more effectively complement UNHCR’s role and responsibility?

Would it be useful to establish new information-sharing arrangements - for example, an internet-based protection alert network or periodic briefings? Would NGOs be prepared to participate in and support such arrangements jointly with UNHCR?

In this context, how should sensitive information be treated? What are the respective roles and responsibilities of UNHCR and NGOs in sharing and using such information for protection purposes? What types of arrangements are needed to ensure confidentiality and the appropriate use of such information?

Would it be feasible to establish more structured arrangements for ensuring adequate and timely response to protection emergencies? Do NGOs have any proposals in this regard?

What other forms of collaboration are needed to ensure that UNHCR and NGOs engage in coordinated action when refugee protection crises occur?

Opening statements by Mr. Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watch and Mr. Guy Tousignant, CARE International, followed by discussion.

Friday, 12 March
(Peterson Hall)

What measures should be undertaken to ensure that NGO field operations are more fully informed by protection concerns?

Would joint protection training and/or staff exchange programmes between the humanitarian and human rights sectors be useful?

How should the recently issued protection field guide for NGOs be used to maximum effect? What further steps can UNHCR take to enhance awareness of protection concerns among NGO field workers?

Would NGOs be prepared to consider using UNHCR protection guidelines and protection indicators in planning, implementing and evaluating their assistance programmes?

Is there a need for other types of mechanisms for consultation and collaboration on protection issues at the field level?

The implementation of agreed measures in this area will likely require substantial new resources. What steps should be taken to address resource constraints?

Opening statements by Mr. Austen Davis, MSF (The Netherlands) and Mr. Reynold Levy, International Rescue Committee, followed by discussion.

How should this dialogue be taken forward? What specific steps are needed to initiate action on points agreed to in this meeting? To facilitate further discussion on other points and issues of interest to the group?

Discussion followed by Moderator’s summary and concluding remarks.