ANNUAL TRIPARTITE CONSULTATIONS ON REFUGEE

UNCLAS GENEVA 000566 DEPT FOR PRM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF SUBJECT: ANNUAL TRIPARTITE CONSULTATIONS ON REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: PRM/A,s Director and Deputy Director, along with USCIS, HHS and NGO representatives, attended the June 30 ) July 2 Annual Tripartite Consultations on Refugee Resettlement hosted by UNHCR in Geneva. Some 170 participants representing 29 governments (both those currently resettling refugees and those contemplating resettlement programs),many NGOs and UNHCR resettlement field staff devoted 2.5 days to learning from UNHCR presentations and engaging in inter-active sessions on themes of common interest to resettlement countries. In its presentation on regional resettlement needs, UNHCR announced a global need of over 500,000 resettlement places in the next few years, although its own capacity to process and refer refugees to resettlement countries is less than a quarter of that number. A particular focus of the High Commissioner is addressing protracted refugee situations and the role of resettlement in these efforts. Eight break-out sessions on topics of common interest allowed participants to share experiences and concerns. End Summary ¶2. UNHCR convened the fourteenth Annual Tripartite Consultations on Refugee Resettlement in Geneva June 30 ) July 2 with a record 170 participants representing current resettlement governments, governments considering becoming resettlement states, NGO representatives and UNHCR staff (both headquarters and field-based) involved in resettlement. USG representatives were Terry Rusch and Larry Bartlett of PRM,s Admissions office, DHS/USCIS Refugee Affairs Director Barbara Strack and HHS/Office of Refugee Resettlement Acting Director David Siegel. U.S. NGOs were represented by Bob Carey (International Rescue Committee),Ambassador Johnny Young (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops),Anne Wilson (Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service),Mark Hetfield (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) and Elizabeth Campbell (Refugee Council USA). ¶3. Erika Feller, UNHCR,s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, welcomed the participants on behalf of High Commissioner Guterres. (Guterres joined participants in some of the &break out8 sessions on Day 2.) Feller noted the progress made to date in increasing the profile of resettlement within the organization and the significant increase in the number of referrals made by UNHCR (98,999 in 2007) but also noted the significant gaps between the Resettlement Services, current estimate of the need for over 
500,000 resettlement places in the next few years, their capacity to refer them and the number of places currently available from resettlement countries. Feller described the High Commissioner,s focus on identifying durable solutions for stateless persons and those in protracted refugee situations and the important role resettlement can play in this process. She commended the Government of Canada for its leadership and hard work during the past year as chair of the Resettlement Working Group. ¶4. Rose Mapendo, a Congolese Tutsi former refugee and survivor of prolonged detention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ) now a U.S. citizen NGO leader ) gave an emotionally riveting presentation on her own experiences and implored the international community to continue to rescue and assist refugees in need around the world. ¶5. Vincent Cochetel, Chief of UNHCR,s Resettlement Service, reviewed: the 83 percent increase in resettlement referrals made in 2007; significantly increased departures (49,868); a 72 percent increase in the resettlement of Women at Risk cases; the increase in the number of resettlement countries (now over 20); the availability in the near future of a transit facility in Romania where urgent resettlement cases could be taken for processing and the likely opening of a similar transit center in the Philippines at a later date; and the High Commissioner,s focus on addressing protracted situations through the use of all durable solutions ) including resettlement. ¶6. Four regional resettlement needs presentations were provided in breakout session format which allowed participants to obtain from UNHCR updated information on populations in need of resettlement and discuss particular logistical or other challenges to undertaking resettlement processing for them. USG participants covered all sessions. ¶7. A special session involving interested governments and UNHCR representatives focused on the resettlement needs of Palestinians from Iraq. The 2,000 in Al Waleed camp near the Syrian border, the 726 in Al Tanf camp located in the no-man,s land between Iraq and Jordan and the 296 in El Hol camp in Syria represent the highest priority resettlement cases for UNHCR. Sudan has offered to allow up to 2,000 to resettle in Khartoum but UNHCR is looking for additional resettlement assistance from other governments as well. Brazil, Chile, Canada, Sweden and the U.S. have already resettled Palestinians from Iraq. Several governments in attendance pledged willingness to consider additional Palestinian cases. ¶8. Most of days two and three were devoted to eight break-out sessions which afforded participants the opportunity to share experiences and develop recommendations for adoption and implementation by ATC participants. Topics including: how best to offer assistance to new resettlement countries in launching national programs; challenges/opportunities in family reunification ) including use of DNA testing; resettling refugees with serious medical needs; resettlement of women, girls and children at risk; use of resettlement in addressing protracted situations; employment,s role in integration; and experience to date with Iraqi resettlement were covered. The USG and US NGO reps took the lead in four of the eight sessions. ¶9. The United Kingdom assumed the chair of the Refugee Working Group for the coming year. TICHENOR