The UNHCR office in Belarus was established in 1995. With the aim of enhancing the quality of asylum in the context of mixed migration flows, the primary objective of the UNHCR office in Belarus during recent years has been to assist the Belarusian authorities to establish a humane system for managing irregular migration flows with an emphasis on ensuring that the rights of asylum seekers and refugees are respected in compliance with international norms and standards and that measures for the protection and integration of refugees function effectively. The main means of advancing these goals is through building the capacity of the Government of Belarus and local non-governmental organisations to deal with refugee and migration related issues, and making public opinion receptive to the protection needs of refugees and integration efforts.
A second related theme in Belarus, corresponding with UNHCR’s mandate, is that of addressing the problem of statelessness with the aim of ascertaining its true scope in Belarus and, while working towards its reduction and elimination, ensuring that stateless people acquire citizenship.

With a changing political geography on Belarus’ western and northern borders, as well as the EU greater involvement in border management and asylum system building issues, UNHCR will continue to ensure that the central role of asylum in the Belarus national migration system is recognized and developed. UNHCR will also assist the Belarus government in its increased cross-border and sub-regional cooperation in refugee and migration related areas with its neighboring countries, as part of the European – Asian Programme and the Budapest and Soderkoping Processes.

Guided by its mandate to protect refugees and viewing the asylum component as a keystone of a modern migration management system, UNHCR has therefore developed a regional strategy to strengthen and consolidate the fledgling national asylum systems in the WNIS and to close gaps with international standards in managing asylum issues. UNHCR focus in Belarus will be on providing assistance to the Government in further refining of refugee legislation and strengthening the administrative capacities of the relevant structures for its implementation. Capacity building interventions (training, study visits, targeted technical assistance projects), development of legislative and administrative structures will be implemented in co-ordination with republican authorities and involve all the regions. Further attention will be paid to capacitating other segments of society (NGOs, the media, judiciary, academics) to play a monitoring and complementary role to that of the Government. Emphasis will also be placed on establishing linkages between Belarusian and external NGOs, as well as fostering working relations between NGOs active in the refugee sphere and relevant Government institutions.

UNHCR’s role will remain crucial for monitoring the situation of refugees and asylum seekers as regards their treatment by the authorities and protection needs; providing direct legal and social assistance to the latter through a number of implementing partners whose capacity in this regard has to be largely sustained by UNHCR; and conducting appropriate public awareness activities to ensure public acceptance of UNHCR and refugees. Particular UNHCR attention will be paid for advocating with migration authorities and judicial instances for fair and efficient asylum procedures and improved quality of the RSD process, including the use of COI information throughout the procedure. In 2007, UNHCR will assist the cooperation of the government authorities and NGOs through the establishing of the border monitoring mechanism to prevent unlawful expulsion of asylum seekers and ensure their access to asylum procedures.

Since integration was approved as the main durable solution for the majority of persons of concern, UNHCR Minsk’s strategy will include activities aimed at improving integration possibilities for recognized refugees, primarily including assistance in the sectors of shelter, income generation and community development.
Repatriation of refugees will be facilitated on a voluntary basis. When integration and repatriation are not possible, or in cases of acute protection needs, UNHCR will take measures on arranging the resettlement of persons in need of international protection.

In Belarus, UNHCR will mainstream activities in the field of statelessness into established partnerships and activities in the sphere of asylum. UNHCR will continue discussion with the MFA, the MIA and the Ministry of Justice, as well as with legislators on the accession to the Statelessness Conventions.