Unaccompanied migrant adolescents wait to be transferred to a reception facility in Lampedusa, Italy, after crossing the central Mediterranean.
In response to the migration management agreement signed between Italy and Albania on Monday, the UNHCR said in a statement today that arrangements for the transfer of asylum seekers and refugees must follow international refugee law to ensure that they receive appropriate protection.
According to media reports, on November 6, local time, Italy and Albania signed a memorandum of understanding on the management of migrant flows, and the two sides agreed to establish two immigration centers in Albania to temporarily accommodate migrants arriving in Italy by sea.
Migrants will wait here for Italy to process their asylum applications, the report said. If the application is refused, Albania will deport the applicant, with the exception of minors, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups.
UNHCR stated that it had no knowledge of the content or details of the agreement, had not provided advice on it, and was not a party to or had any involvement in the agreement. At present, UNHCR is seeking further information from the relevant authorities.
The rights of refugees must be respected
UNHCR has long emphasized that the repatriation or transfer of refugees to safe third countries must meet certain criteria, which is its long-standing position. Specifically, third countries must fully respect the rights set out in the Refugee Convention, as well as their own human rights obligations; And the agreement must help States to share the responsibility of refugees equitably, rather than shirk it.
Under international refugee law, when an asylum seeker arrives in a country, whether at land borders or at sea, and seeks protection there, then that country has the primary responsibility for assessing asylum claims and providing international protection. This obligation is not altered by the transfer or extraterritorial processing of asylum-seekers. While legal transfer arrangements for asylum cooperation between States may be made, these measures must ensure and strengthen the protection of refugees.
Solidarity in response to the migration dilemma in the Mediterranean
UNHCR has been calling for action, particularly in solidarity with the most affected countries, to address the dire situation of migrants in the Mediterranean.
In the face of the challenges posed by the increasing number of mixed migrants, UNHCR expressed its readiness to work with States to take legitimate measures to deal more effectively with arrivals, in accordance with international standards and the principle of shared responsibility; At the same time, we are committed to providing adequate guarantees and guarantees to ensure that the rights of refugees are respected.
UNHCR is seeking opportunities to discuss further details with the Governments of Italy and Albania to better understand how the agreement will affect refugees and others in need of international protection.
