UNHCR staff and representatives from several NGOs also participated in the training program. “This training is invaluable in preparing our resettlement experts for rapid deployment to UNHCR operations where additional support is most needed,” commented Linda Besharaty, ICMC Resettlement Coordinator.

“The partnership between UNHCR and ICMC has existed for more than ten years, during which time ICMC deployees have referred thousands of cases for resettlement consideration, making a difference to the lives of vulnerable refugees the world over. Today, we are equipping a further 18 resettlement experts with the necessary skills to continue this work.”

Participants took part in a variety of training sessions, which focused on international protection, refugee law and resettlement operations. Particular attention was paid to the 1951 Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, including the definition and criteria for refugee status. Importantly, participants consolidated their knowledge of UNHCR’s eight criteria for determining the need for resettlement and were trained to identify the most vulnerable refugees and those at greatest risk. In addition, the participants complemented their knowledge through discussions of a number of different refugee populations and region-specific cases.

ICMC Director of Operations, Walter Brill, UNHCR Deputy Director-Division of International Protection, Wei-Meng Lim-Kabba, and UNHCR Senior Resettlement Coordinator, Johannes van der Klauuw, came together to welcome the participants on Monday morning. Addressing the participants on the number of refugees whose cases were submitted for resettlement consideration in 2009, van der Klauuw emphasized resettlement as “a key protection tool and a durable solution for refugees.” He further stated that ICMC deployees processed more than half of UNHCR’s total resettlement cases and “have to be accredited with contributing to the rising number of submissions over the last 5 years.”

In addition to ICMC Deployment Scheme delegates, representatives were also present from ICMC Europe and UNHCR in Geneva and Moscow, as well as Cairo-based NGOs Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance and Resettlement Legal Aid Project, and the Centre for International Cooperation of the Red Cross in St Petersburg. “This training has provided me with an excellent opportunity to meet and learn from like-minded individuals who come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wealth of experience in refugee protection,” observed Denise Lassar, from Israel.

Three of the training participants will depart over the next two weeks for their UNHCR-ICMC deployments in Kenya and Chad. “I have no doubt that I am now better placed to practically assist refugees on a day-to-day basis as a result of this training,” said Canadian, Laurel Borisenko, who departs today for her deployment at the UNHCR branch office in Nairobi.

The UNHCR-ICMC Resettlement Deployment Scheme plays a vital role increasing the number of vulnerable refugees referred for resettlement consideration. The Scheme has provided support to UNHCR since 1998 and ICMC is a key member of UNHCR’s affiliate workforce for resettlement activities. ICMC manages a global roster of more than 200 resettlement specialists and 5 sub rosters for experts in the following areas: refugee children/Best Interest Determination, group resettlement, psychosocial support, refugee status determination and refugee women and gender issues.

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 For further information, please contact ICMC Communications at +41 22 919 10 20 or info@icmc.net<.

For information on refugee and resettlement statistics, please consult UNHCR Report on Global Resettlement Needs 2011, available at www.unhcr.org<.

UNHCR-ICMC Deployment Scheme hosts key resettlement training workshop for refugee protection experts (8.96 MB)