The United Nations agency for refugees (UNHCR) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to increase advocacy and other measures designed to protect the human rights of refugees and other people under UNHCR’s mandate. in Indonesia. These two organizations agreed to strengthen collaboration for the protection of refugees, asylum seekers, stateless people and people at risk of losing their citizenship, in various matters including in finding alternatives to immigration detention centers; protection and assistance for children; increased birth registration; and protection of the family unit.
“We are happy to announce that today UNHCR is strengthening its collaboration with Komnas HAM, an organization known for its work monitoring respect for human rights in Indonesia, which aims to eliminate discrimination in the country. Discrimination often arises from fear and miscommunication, ” said Thomas Vargas, UNHCR Representative in Indonesia. “One of the most important aspects of our collaboration with Komnas HAM will focus on increasing understanding and trust between refugees and host communities, which will of course improve their living environment. “Given the opportunity, refugees often make valuable contributions to their host communities,” added Vargas.
In Indonesia, as of June 2015, there were 13,188 people of concern to UNHCR, including 5,277 refugees and 7,911 asylum seekers. Most of them are fleeing conflict or human rights violations they face in countries such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, Somalia, Iran and Iraq. Refugees are people who are forced to leave their country of origin or place of residence to escape persecution and to save their lives. They have no choice but to seek asylum in other countries such as Indonesia, which provides refugees with a safe temporary residence until a best long-term solution is found for them.
A report released by UNHCR in June 2015 shows that forced displacement throughout the world has increased sharply due to war, conflict and persecution, with a total of 59.5 million people forced to move from their place of origin/home at the end of 2014. In Asia alone, the number of refugees and internally displaced persons increased 31 percent in 2014 to 9 million people. Afghanistan, which was previously the largest refugee producing country, has been displaced by Syria.
Continued forced displacement was seen in and from Myanmar in 2014, including Rohingya groups from Rakhine Province and in the Kachin and Northern Shan regions. Iran and Pakistan remain two of the top four host countries for refugees in the world.
****
MEDIA CONTACTS
Mitra Suryono, Associate External Relations/ Public Information Officer.
Email: [email protected]. Mobile: +62 811 136 1046
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
