UNHRC
United Nation Human Rights Council
Agenda: Protecting the rights of refugees and internally displaced people
Portfolio: Israel
Dr. Jacob Robinson, Plenipotentiary for Israel, in the press release on Israel’s signing of
the 1951 convention stated that:-
“Israel’s standards today are above those set forth in the Convention. ‘Our refugees are becoming citizens
almost as they step off the boat, but we still have a large number of other refugees and we intend to treat
them honestly and fairly as nationals in every respect…’
The rise in the population of Refugees is increasing rapidly. With there being 48.4 million
refugees and 68.3 million Internally displaced people. Israel is doing its best or the
betterment of refugees and internally displaced peoples (IPDs).
Israel’s contribution is as follows:
Operation Good Neighbour : In June 2016, as part of a decision to expand
humanitarian aid efforts, the IDF started this Operation. The goal of Operation
Good Neighbour was to provide humanitarian aid to as many people as possible
while maintaining Israel’s policy of non-involvement in the conflict.
African refugees: Israel has granted protection to approximately 60,000 asylum
seekers, primarily from Eritrea and Sudan. It has recognized some as refugees and
offered humanitarian assistance to many. And many more…
The state of Israel has many NGO’s that assist refugees and asylum
seekers and are co-ordinated by UNHCR:-
The Hotline for Refugees and Migrants: established in 1998 and previously
known as Hotline for Migrant Workers, specializes in providing legal and paralegal
services, monitoring detention facilities, drafting litigation and public advocacy,
and outreach for refugees and asylum-seekers.
The African Refugee Development Centre (ARDC): is a grassroots NGO that
was established by African refugees and Israeli citizens in 2004 in order to provide
humanitarian support and services for asylum-seekers and refugees in Israel.
ASSAF (the Aid Organization for Asylum Seekers and Refugees): founded
in 2007 to aid refugees and asylum-seekers, works in the areas of Advocacy for
Social Change, Community Strengthening and Psychosocial Support.
The Eritrean Women’s Community: It is an initiative with its centre in Tel Aviv is
an initiative designed and run independently by a group of Eritrean refugee
women.
Possible solutions:
Voluntary Repatriation
Millions of refugees dream of going home. As the durable solution of choice for the largest number of
refugees, voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity requires the full commitment of the country of
origin to help reintegrate its own people.
o Voluntary Repatriation refers to the free and voluntary return of refugees to
their country of origin in safety and dignity.
o A successful voluntary repatriation programs require a stable political
situation in the country of origin to ensure that returnees will be able to
reintegrate and not be required to flee again.
Resettlement
Many refugees cannot go home because of continued conflict, wars and persecution. Many also live in
perilous situations or have specific needs that cannot be addressed in the country where they have
sought protection. In such circumstances, UNHCR helps resettle refugees to a third country.
o Resettlement is the transfer of refugees from an asylum country to another
State that has agreed to admit them and ultimately grant them permanent
settlement.
o Since 2009, UNHCR Israel has resettled over 1,000 refugees, mostly to
Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, The Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States. In 2019, there
were 289 spots available for refugees to be resettled out of Israel.
Refugee sponsorship program
Other countries can implement private sponsorship programme for refugees. The
programme allows citizens and permanent residents the opportunity to sponsor a
refugee to come to the country, thereby offering refugees worldwide protection
and a new home. It is already implemented in countries like Canada, Ireland, etc.
Family reunification
“The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society
and the State.”
Article 16, paragraph 3, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
o Family reunification procedures are based on the legal right to family unity.
Family is universally recognized as the fundamental unit of society. Its
integrity is protected under international law and in binding regional legal
instruments. Unlike other third-country solutions, States have a legal
responsibility to establish legal frameworks that enable families to reunite.
Most countries have family reunification procedures for refugees based on
these international obligations.
