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Dispatches No. 249
Up | November 30, 2008
REFUGEE NEWS BRIEFINGS
UPDATES ON JRS PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
REFUGEE NEWS BRIEFINGS
TANZANIA: REPATRIATION AND CLOSURE OF REFUGEE CAMPS
Over the last six years, more than 400,000 refugees from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have returned home. However despite an agreement between the Congolese and Tanzanian governments, there has been a significant reduction in the number of refugees returning to South Kivu in eastern Congo.
Since 2005, more than 60,000 Congolese have returned home. Due to the fact that most Congolese refugees residing in the western Tanzania district of Kigoma are from South Kivu, the ongoing violence in neighbouring North Kivu was not perceived as an obstacle. Nevertheless, more than 80,000 refugees continue to live in Lugufu and Nyaragusu camps in nearby Kigoma.
On 15 November, Boniface Mpagape from JRS Radio Kwizera in Tanzania, told Dispatches that the number of refugees returning home has dropped to a low of 200 per week. Many refugees fear the conflict could spread southwards, he added.
However, elsewhere in western Tanzania, refugees from Burundi continue to return home. As refugees return, camps are merged.
According to the Tanzanian government Nduta camp in the western district of Kibondo is due to close at the end of November. This is the third time the authorities have tried to close the camp, host to nearly 10,000 Burundian refugees, after attempts in June and September failed due for logistic reasons. Four of the five camps in the Kibondo area have been closed. The remaining camp will now be used mainly as a transit camp for returning refugees.
Other camps in the region have either been closed or are in the process of closing. In the nearby district of Kasula, one of the camps was closed in 2006 after the Burundian refugee population returned home. Of the remaining two camps, Mutabila camp still hosts a population of 38,000 Burundians but convoys of about 400 to 500 refugees return every week.
For decades, Tanzania has hosted one of the world's largest refugee populations, mostly coming from neighbouring countries Burundi, Rwanda and DRC.
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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: EU PRESSED TO PROVIDE RAPID REACTION FORCE
Former presidents of Czech Republic, Ireland and South Africa have urged the EU to send a rapid reaction force to eastern Congo immediately, echoing a call made by humanitarian agencies Oxfam and Human Rights Watch.
On 26 November, the Belgian government was the first to publicly state it could contribute to such a force.
While the UN Security council has authorised an additional 3,000 peacekeeping troops, it is likely to take at least three months to deploy them. The UN force in Congo (MONUC), at 17,000-strong the largest peacekeeping mission in the world, has continuously stated it cannot provide total security in North Kivu, stretched as it already is over a country the size of Western Europe, where armed groups abound.
Even through rebel leader Laurent Nkunda has pledged to respect a ceasefire, hundreds of Congolese civilians fled east into Uganda on 26 November to escape rebel operations against their traditional militia groups in the province.
Having supported the move to bolster MONUC numbers, JRS stressed the importance of providing protection to the civilian population and ensuring the safe arrival of food and other essential items, particularly to those living outside urban areas and camps. According to a JRS statement on 20 November, as soon the security situation permits education should be prioritised. Otherwise, it fears that a whole generation of children will be denied an education, an essential factor in the successful reconstruction of the war-torn region.
For further information see www.jrs.net/alerts and www.jrs.net/statement
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INDONESIA: LANDMINE REPORT COMMENDS GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP
"One year after ratifying the 1997 UN Treaty to Ban Landmines, Indonesia has exceeded the expectations of the international community by taking up a strong leadership role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote a mine-free world", stated Els Coolen from the Indonesian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CBL), on 21 November.
The Landmine Monitor report is coordinated by an editorial Board drawn from four organisations: Mines Action Canada, Handicap International, Human Rights Watch and Norwegian People's Aid.
While Landmine Monitor 2008 reports that three countries are in serious violation of their treaty obligation after failing to meet their deadline to destroy their stockpile of landmines, as of 13 November the Indonesian government had completed the destruction of its stockpile of landmines, two years before the deadline. According to Landmine Monitor, 26 countries face difficulties meeting treaty deadlines, 15 of which have requested an extension. There are no landmines on Indonesian soil.
In addition, Indonesia organised a workshop promoting the global ban on landmines and encouraging Southeast Asian states to accede to the treaty, strengthening dialogue between mine-affected countries in the region and donor countries and raising public awareness of the treaty in the region.
"In the name of the CBL, we congratulate the government on this initiative promoting a mine-free region and on the progress in fulfilling its obligations under the Convention. The attendance of six regional non-state parties to the landmine treaty (Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam) is particularly encouraging," JRS Indonesia Advocacy officer, Lars Stenger stated.
Within a few months of endorsing the treaty on cluster munitions, the Indonesian government began consulting and informing the relevant departments about the consequences of signing the new Treaty to speed up the ratification process and avoid the long delay as experienced with the Mine Ban Treaty ratification process.
In addition, Indonesia was one of 107 countries which endorsed the new Convention on Cluster Munitions in Dublin last May.
For further information see www.jrs.net/alerts
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FRANCE: DETENTION CENTRES UNACCEPTABLE
Council of Europe Commissioner (COE) for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, criticised migrant detention conditions in France, stressing the "unacceptable living conditions faced by many detainees, who have to cope with overcrowding, lack of privacy, dilapidated facilities and substandard hygiene".
"It is necessary to condemn the lack of concrete guidelines on detention and the perverse effects of government polices on migrants, such as the arrest of parents outside schools effectively hindering access to education", JRS France Director, Mr Jean Marie Carrière, told Dispatches on 24 November, welcoming Mr Hammarberg's comments on detention.
"Security concerns should not undermine respect for human rights norms. Some French policies on detention and migration risk undermining these standards", the COE Commissioner added.
Mr Hammarberg said that problems with the present system need to be solved rapidly and that "the proposed revision of prison legislation must not ignore respect for prisoners' fundamental rights, and more effective solutions and financial means should be provided to improve both material conditions and the treatment of people suffering from mental disorders."
These comments follow the release of the Commissioner's memorandum on his May visit to France, where he discussed human rights issues with various government ministers and inspected a number of detention and penitentiary facilities.
Despite the criticisms, Mr Hammarberg welcomed a number of improvements made since his 2006 report, namely the efforts made by French authorities to enhance prison conditions.
For further information see http://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/News/2008/081120FranceMemo_en.asp and http://www.cimade.org/publications/16.
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ITALY: UN WORKING GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION PRESENTS FINDING
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) expressed serious concern about the conditions in which migrants and asylum seekers are held, in particular with regard to the deprivation of liberty to which they are subject.
The UN working group, comprising five independent experts, visited Italian prison and detention facilities over a period of twelve days at the beginning of November. A focus of the visits was on the situation of detainees belonging to vulnerable groups, including juvenile offenders and persons living with mental disabilities.
Speaking at a press conference in Rome on November 14, the group made particular reference to the 'De Mistura Commission'. Two years on, the findings from this government-led Commission on reception and detention centres have yet to be implemented. The group stressed the ongoing validity of the Commission findings, particularly in relation to the duration of detention and the application of additional, arbitrary, detention periods.
During the twelve days, consultations were held with several high ranking officials including the director of the department of civil liberties and immigration and the minister for Justice. Consultations were also held with several civil society organisations, including Caritas Roma, the Italian Refugee Council and JRS Italy, focusing on arbitrary detention.
"With regard to the duration of detention in expulsion centres, we would like to stress that the limit of 18 months provided in the EU return directive is meant to limit the duration of detention in countries which currently have no limit. It is certainly not meant to encourage countries with laws that establish reasonable limits, such as the sixty days currently in Italy, to abandon their good practice", stated Mr Aslan Abashidze, the independent expert presenting the group's observations in reference to the EU returns directive.
"The findings of this group reflect an ongoing reality throughout Europe, namely that EU member states are increasingly detaining asylum seekers and migrants for longer periods of time, in inadequate conditions and with little regard for more humane alternatives to detention", JRS Policy Officer, Mr Philip Amaral, told Dispatches.
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INTERNATIONAL: STATES MUST STOP THE DETENTION OF CHILDREN
On the occasion of Universal Children's Day 2008, the International Coalition on the Detention of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants (IDC) urged states to stop the detention of migrant and refugee children.
The steering committee of the IDC brings together a number of leading international NGOs which share concerns about the treatment of immigration detainees, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and JRS.
In a recent survey of detention issues in 21 countries, the IDC found that there is an increase globally in the use of migration-related detention, with many countries continuing to detain migrant and refugee children. Reports included children being detained in closed refugee camps, alongside convicted criminals in jails or in immigration detention centres where they may be vulnerable to sexual abuse and lack of adequate medical care and education.
The survey listed concerns for children in detention in Belgium, Egypt, Kenya, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Thailand, South Africa, UK and USA.
The IDC is a coalition of over 150 non-governmental groups and individuals working in more than 50 countries. It advocates limiting the use of, seeking alternatives to, and using the least restrictive forms of, immigration detention.
For the full statement see www.jrs.net/statements
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UPDATES ON JRS PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: JRS OPENS NEW PROGRAMMES
"More than one million people in the Central African Republic (CAR) are living in chronic poverty and insecurity. Responding to their urgent needs reminds us why JRS exists", Regional Finance Officer, Albert Manyuchi, told Dispatches on 28 November following a needs assessment visit to the country's northeastern Haute-Kotto Province.
Last month, JRS opened its national office in Bangui, the capital, to coordinate projects in the northern provinces of Ouham, Haute-Kotto and Vakaga.
The war between government and rebel groups and in northern regions which escalated in 1996 has internally displaced nearly 200,000 Central Africans and driven more than 100,000 more into neighbouring Chad, Sudan, and Cameroon. Though fighting abated after the signing of an April 2007 peace accord between the government and the opposition group, Union of Democratic Forces for Unification, insecurity in northern zones continues.
Violence in CAR is perpetrated by a variety of actors including rebel groups, bandits and mercenaries. Although decreased fighting and other factors have permitted small waves of returns, new displacement greatly challenges humanitarian intervention.
JRS programmes will serve internally displaced persons, refugees, returnees and local populations affected by conflict. JRS will offer a range of services but focus on primary level and girls' education. These will involve training, supervision and accompaniment of teachers, and the distribution of educational materials to students and teachers, among other activities.
In addition to primary education, JRS will offer peace education and advocacy activities, as well as pastoral and social services. Using a community-based approach, JRS will work closely local authorities, traditional leaders, civil servants, including the army, and other community members.
JRS CAR works in cooperation with the Catholic Diocese, the UN children's fund (UNICEF), the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the Ministry of Education. JRS seeks to help build the capacity of local populations to deliver quality education and boost literacy rates among children. In line with the JRS mission, individuals living in vulnerable circumstances will be prioritised.
JRS conducted an initial needs assessment in CAR last May. Flooding during the rainy seasoning, impassable roads, poor infrastructure and insecurity have delayed the commencement of projects. Services are expected to be fully operational by 15 December. CAR also hosts about 7,500 refugees mainly from the bordering conflict zones of Chad, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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ECUADOR: JRS RECEIVES HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
On 27 November, the Metropolitan district council announced that this year's Manuela Sáenz Award will go to JRS Ecuador for its defence of the rights of migrants and refugees.
Each year the city authority grants a series of awards to individuals and organisations for outstanding work in different fields, including the Manuela Sáenz Award for human rights achievements.
The Manuela Sáenz Award Ceremony will take place in Quito's national theatre Sucre on 6 December, marking the Spanish foundation of the city of Quito. The ceremony begins at 18.00.
In an email message the day following the announcement, JRS Ecuador Director, Guillermo Rovayo, told Dispatches about this prestigious national award.
"I am proud to tell you that the decision to award the prize to JRS Ecuador was taken unanimously by Quito city councillors and city Mayor Paco Moncayo" the director wrote in his email.
In a statement by the city council, it cited the contribution made by JRS Ecuador to the construction of the metropolitan decree on human mobility and the design of a district system of human mobility, including a roundtable, network and an observatory.
The metropolitan decree on human mobility (Ordenanza Metropolitana de Movilidad Humana) promotes, protects and guarantees the rights of people on the move, such as immigrants, emigrants, refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. The district system of human mobility is one of the instruments established to implement the city's human mobility plan. It includes the establishment of fora offering all sections of society the opportunity to participate in the development of policies on human mobility.
The metropolitan authorities also mentioned the work of JRS Ecuador in defence of the rights of migrants and refugees and the organisation's contribution to the development of the country's new constitution.
"Each and every JRS staff member will receive a very important distinction. We must commit ourselves to continue working harder each day, more determined and passionate", Mr Rovayo told Dispatches on 28 November.
Born in Quito in December 1797, Manuela Saénz was a revolutionary heroine of Latin America. Some historians describe her as the most important woman in Latin American history, more influential than Eva Perón.
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PANAMA: JRS RADIO PROGRAMME LAUNCHED
On 21 November, the second transmission of the new JRS Panama radio programme ‘Solidarity without Borders' was broadcast.
The first transmission focused on providing listeners with an introduction and presentation of the programme and JRS Panama, while the second examined issues regarding the daily lives of refugees and other forcibly displaced migrants, with particular emphasis on the JRS Panama experience of accompaniment, service and advocacy with those living in the most vulnerable circumstances.
Every month, the new programme will go on the airwaves of the Panamanian Catholic radio station, Radio Hogar and can be heard live on www.radiohogar.org. Listeners are offered information and analysis on issues as diverse as gender, ethnicity, age, violence, human rights abuses and the rights of refugees and migrants, as well as their contribution to Panamanian society.
Solidarity without Borders is presented by JRS Panama staff members. Individuals from the refugee community and members of the national network of migrants and refugees, among others, will be invited to participate in the programme.
Other major issues and broadcast dates are as follows: the pastoral work of the Church in the area of human mobility on 19 December; the formation of prejudices and stereotypes of refugees and migrants on 30 January 2009; national and international refugee legislation on 27 February 2009; and national migration legislation on 27 March 2009.
For further information contact JRS Panama Communication and Research Officer, Kevin Evandro Sánchez Saavedra, by email on kevin.sanchez@jrs.net or by telephone: +507 225-4604 or +507 225-4605.
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LATIN AMERICA: STUDENTS TALK ABOUT FORCED DISPLACEMENT
JRS is building a network with secondary schools. More than 60 young people from Jesuit secondary schools in Colombia met for three days in the Casa San José de Potosí, situated in the suburbs of Bogotá, within the framework of the third national meeting of JRS colleges.
Between 15 and 17 November, the group of young students shared analyses and perspectives about the magnitude of the internal conflict in Colombia and the impact on neighbouring countries. Above and beyond the theory, they confirmed their commitment to the accompaniment, service and defence of the rights of forcibly displaced persons. Paraphrasing the words of the founder of JRS, they stated their intention was "to refuse to go through life as if JRS schools did not exist".
The event offered the students an opportunity to exchange their experiences from Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Calí, Medellín and Pasto of raising public awareness regarding internal displacement in Colombia which affects more than three million people in the country. Representatives from JRS offices in Ecuador and Panama and the regional office in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, also participated in the meeting. They provided the students with an overview of the situation facing Colombian refugees in neighbouring countries.
In the words of JRS Colombia Director, Hugo Alexis Moreno SJ, the great value of the work of each one of these young members of the organisation is the advocacy they undertake.
"They undertake this advocacy work to ensure that displacement becomes a subject of discussion in each one of their schools and within their families, in such a way that the human face of those living in the most vulnerable circumstances is not overlooked" Fr Moreno SJ stated.
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