Country of Origin information

The country of origin information database is the first and foremost tool for country information that UNHCR provides. The information provided is essential for the refugee status determination procedure, and it is often the only and most complete tool that is available for refugee-related issues. It is also very useful for research purposes. The majority of the documents relate to the human rights situation in the countries.

The sources are carefully selected, and aim to provide a balanced and objective overview. There are international (including UNHCR) documents, as well as governmental and non-governmental reports:


International Sources

UNHCR
Background Papers on Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Bibliographies
Country Information Papers
Country Operations Plans (COPS)
Global Appeal and Global Report (Regional and Country Chapters)
State of the World's Refugees (Country Chapters)

Commission of the European Communities (Web site)
Country Reports European Neighbourhood Policy
Monitoring Reports Accession Countries
Progress Reports Stabilisation and Association Agreement

Council of Europe (Web site)
Commissioner for Human Rights Reports
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture Reports
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Reports
Parliamentary Assembly Reports


Governmental Sources

Danish Immigration Service (Web site)
Reports on Fact-Finding Missions

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Web site)
Responses to Information Requests (REFINFO)
Question and Answer (Q&A) Research Papers (REFQUEST)

Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Web site)
Country Reports

Swiss Federal Office for Refugees (Web site)
Country Reports

UK Home Office, Immigration and Nationality Directorate (Web site)
Country Information Bulletins
Country Reports and Assessments
Reports on Fact-Finding Missions

U.S. Department of State (Web site)
Annual Reports on International Religious Freedom
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services (Web site)
Country Reports
Responses to Information Requests


Non-Governmental Sources

ACCORD (Web site)
Country Reports

Amnesty International (Web site)
Annual Reports (Country Chapters)
Country Reports
Regional Reports
Thematic Reports

European Council on Refugees and Exiles (Web site)
Country Guidelines and Reports

Human Rights Watch (Web site)
Annual Reports (Country Chapters)
Country Reports
Thematic Reports

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (Web site)
IDP Country Profiles

International Crisis Group (Web site)
Country Reports

U.S. Committee for Refugees (Web site)
Annual Reports (Country Chapters)

WRITENET
Country Reports

Source

Title

Country

Region

Author

Keywords

Text search

Language

Date

(enter four digit year e.g. 1998)


RefLink portal
Reflink is a reference portal of selected information sources dealing with refugee, asylum, human rights and related topics.
 European country of origin information network
Ecoi.net is an electronic country of origin information portal, set up in 2001, that has proven to be a key research tool for governments, NGOs, judges and lawyers.