Summary: Training on Asylum in European and International Law - Day 1
Training was implemented by Refugee Rights Assosiation (North Cyprus) and KISA (an NGO on the South).
That's was a great opportunity to learn about refugees issue and how is it being handled here in North Cyprus.
Presentation speach was delivered by ombudsmen Emine - she emphasized that some immigrants especially those who enter county without documents on their hands are seen as criminals, which is wrong. The ombudsmen also noted that problem is not unique for North Cyprus as it also touches Europe and that there is also vulnerable groups such as woman and children who need protection. "For example, only on Germany there is 9 000 missing refugee children - there is no investigation on where are they. There is an urgent need to raise an awareness and provide legal framework for solution of such problems. There should be more projects like the one we attend today and they should extend their scope."
Conference continued with invited guest-speaker from Refugee Rights Centre Turkey Veysel Eshiz ; he has noted main conventions such as 1951 Geneva Convention and Protocol of 1967 and discussed on the definition of the refugee as well as who are not considered to be a refugee as they don't fall into any prescribed groups. He also talked on concept of non-refoulement- in other words no sending back the refugee no matter what conditions are.
Next speaker Nicoletta Charalambidou has shared an experience of South Cyprus which started from zero. Till 1998 there was no legal framework on the South for refugee laws I.e. there were refugees coming on boats but they were not acknowledged as refugees. Established on the South UNHCR has examined first applications, later on Cypriot government has cooperated in issues of non - roufoulement and providing reception condition.
In 2000, first refugee law entered into force. After 4 years major institutional reform was taken - betterment of procedures of examination, provided training to employees. And of course, the EU directives were transpose from 2009 till 2013. Recently, in 2016 there were new amendments added. Basically we can see how process has developed over years.
There is an exiting 2 level assessment:
Asylum service and administrative court and then case goes to supreme court.
Mrs. Nicoletta also noted that on her practice there were cases of 99.5% rejected refugee application forms due to absence of proper assessment, failed interviews, not properly educated on refugee issue staff. She also noted that some of the EU directives might have been transposed wrongfully and that there is no clear protection against refoulment.
Next speaker - Fezile Osum - from SOS Children's village has told us about project "Strengthening Asylum in Cyprus" - first shocking truth was that there is no legal ground, no refugee definition, thus, no refugee registration on the borders in TRNC. There is not even 1 refugee registered by government. And the southern part has got 59 099 application from refugees and provided it only to 8 968 and around 1200 got the special refugee protection status. "The project is implemented by SOS and UNSI - We mainly work on international part such as provision of legal services, legal assistance in cases of officials deciding to send refugee back (which often the case) and social support ( language courses, social activities etc.). Currently, withon our project we have 70 registered refugees 47 males, 23 females - 25 of them are children. Unfortunately, a person who flew here to TRNC from a war zone in search to shelter is seen as a criminal and law prescribed that decision upon permission to let person in or not is given to immigration officer. Considering that there is no definition of refugee and immigration officer can not refer to refugee status of arrived ( simply because there is no such thing) - there is high chance that person will be simply sent back or held in waiting room with poor conditions ( no Windows or ventilation) for a few days without no/little food provision. Arrived refugees are being punished - number of punishments has increased with number of arrivals in 2017. Those people are arrested and kept in custody or waiting rooms, they are classified as criminals. And because there is need in correspondence among TRNC and Turkey on the refugee details person can be kept in such conditions for 20 to 25 days.
Speaker generally expressed lack of involment of government and help from it when it comes to issues of refugee or asylum seekers.