While UNHCR’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, its ultimate goal is to help find durable solutions that will allow the refugees to rebuild their lives in dignity and peace. There are three solutions open to refugees where UNHCR can help:
- Voluntary repatriation: UNHCR works with the country of origin and host countries to help refugees return home.
- Local integration: Integration of refugees in the host community allows recipients to live in dignity and peace.
- Resettlement: An alternative for those who cannot go home, made possible by UNHCR and governments.
Voluntary repatriation is the return in safety and dignity to the refugees’ country of origin and for them to re-avail themselves of protection from their country of origin, based on their free and informed decision. If refugees so choose to return to their country of origin and if conditions in the country of origin are conducive for return, UNHCR works with the country of origin and host countries to help refugees return.
Local integration is the integration of refugees in the host community in which recipients avail themselves of the national protection of the host government. However, since Hong Kong is not a signatory to the UN 1951 Convention for Refugees, this option is not usually possible for recognized refugees.
Resettlement means that a refugee leaves Hong Kong and legally settles in another country where they will receive legal and physical protection, including access to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights similar to those enjoyed by nationals. Resettlement should allow former refugees to become naturalized citizens in due course. Resettlement, however, is not a right and UNHCR cannot guarantee that all recognized refugees will be resettled. There are only a small number of resettlement countries in the world and out of all the resettlement countries, only a very limited number accept resettlement submissions from Hong Kong.
Each resettlement country has different criteria for acceptance of resettlement applications. The resettlement process usually takes a long period of time. As each resettlement country’s resettlement policies and the adjudication of each case are different, it is not possible to provide an average time it takes for resettlement. Sub-Office Hong Kong continues to work closely with the Hong Kong authorities on durable solutions, including resettlement to a third country, for recognized refugees and persons whose non-refoulement claims are substantiated on grounds of inter alia persecution risk under the Unified Screening Mechanism as appropriate.
For more information on UNHCR’s resettlement policy and practice, please click here