ACCRA 2019

INTERNATIONAL
YOUTH
DIPLOMACY
CONFERENCE

Committee Background Guide

UNHRC
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TABLE OF CONTENT
Welcome Address...................................................................................................1

Committee Overview...............................................................................................6

Annotated Bibliography..........................................................................................11

Bibliography............................................................................................................13

Topic 1......…....….....................................................................….......................…....20

Topic 2....................................................................................................................25
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INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DIPLOMACY CONFERENCE

International Youth Diplomacy Conference (IYDC) is a flagship event of Innovation for Empowerment
and Development (IFED) Global. It is an innovation of the Model United Nations Conference. A
simulation of the United Nations General Assembly, Security Council and other agencies under the
United Nations. It combines youths across Africa and beyond to discuss pertinent issues of Global
interest. IYDC, mostly held in Accra, is educative as well as entertaining.
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WELCOME ADDRESS
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the 2020 International Youth Diplomatic Conference, Accra, Ghana!

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) wishes to express her
joy at having at this session of the the International Youth Diplomatic Conference.

As young people who are next in line to lead this world, we are investing resources into preparing
ourselves for the task ahead. IYDC has carved out a niche for itself in the space of MUN stimulations
in Africa and is in a league of its own, this tells you that you are in the right place.

I am full of confidence that your skill set; research skills, writing skills, public speaking skills and
ability to negotiate and lobby would not only be developed but also tried by the end of the
conference.

Therefore, I beseech you to put your best foot forward in preparing towards the conference,
especially during committee sessions. Our disposition should be characterized by the highest
standards of professionalism and determination in accordance to the rules of procedure.

The topics selected for this year’s edition are not only current but also aimed at making the
simulation practical and bringing out good resolutions in the end.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Topics for discussion:

1. Climate Change and displacement.

2. Supporting the Economic Inclusion of Refugees

The primary purpose of UNHCR is protecting the welfare and rights of refugees and other displaced
persons. Considering the current global crisis of forced migration, UNHCR is a crucial committee
within the United Nations (UN)system. However, the agency suffers from financial constraints that
harm the effectiveness of its work. Taking this into account, it is paramount that delegates review
carefully the mandate of UNHCR, as well as its governance and the work it carries out to understand
how the body works and what actions it can realistically undertake in today’s climate.

This Background Guide serves as an introduction to the topics for this committee. However, it is not
intended to replace individual research. We encourage you to explore your Member State’s policies
in depth and use the Annotated Bibliography and Bibliography to further your knowledge on these
topics. In preparation for the Conference, each delegation will submit a Position Paper in accordance
with the guidelines in the IYDC Position Paper Guide.
Two resources, available to download from the IFED website or to be sent directly to your mail, that
serve as essential instruments in preparing for the Conference and as a reference during committee
sessions are:

1. IYDC Delegate Preparation Guide - explains each step in the delegate process, from pre-
Conference research to the committee debate and resolution drafting processes. Please take note of
the information on plagiarism, and the prohibition on pre-written working papers and resolutions.
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Delegates should not start discussion on the topics with other members of their committee until the
first committee session.

2. IYDC Rules of Procedure - includes the long and short form of the rules, as well as an explanatory
narrative and example script of the flow of procedure.
In addition, please review the mandatory IYDC Conduct Expectations on the IFED website. They
include the Conference dress code and other expectations of all attendees. We want to emphasize
that any instances of sexual harassment or discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation,
national origin, religion, age, or disability will not be tolerated. If you have any questions concerning
your preparation for the committee or the Conference itself, please contact the conference officials.
I wish you all the best in your preparations and look forward to seeing you at the Conference!

GREG IFUNANYA

CHAIRPERSON, UNHCR

WELCOME ADDRESS, UNHCR

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Delegates,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you this day to the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) Committee.

I would like to seize this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for your unwavering support
and collaboration. Innovation for Empowerment and Development (iFED GLOBAL) through its
flagship program, International Youth Diplomacy Conference (IYDC) remains committed in its
engagement with its delegates, partners & other concierge within the diplomatic community.

2019 going into 2020 has been an eventful time for IFED GLOBAL. It has brought about strategic
partnerships one of which includes the Change Africa Project as well as new spheres of leadership.

As we embrace and brave on in this momentous shift happening all around the world, we must
stand united & press on regardless of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic which has also touched
several facets of the International landscape.

Once more, I welcome you distinguished delegates to IYDC 2020.

EDET NSA EKPENYONG

Secretary, UNHCR
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COMMITTEE OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the United Nations (UN)
agency whose primary purpose is the protection of the welfare and rights of refugees. The UN
General Assembly established the body in 1950 to address the high number of displaced Europeans
after World War II with a three-year mandate. However, the General Assembly soon began
proposing various resolutions to extend the body’s work to groups of people not included in its
original scope. UNHCR’s first significant emergency followed a violent Soviet intervention in Hungary
in 1956, and highlighted its essential role in delivering aid to those fleeing and seeking refuge in
neighboring states. The 1960s’decolonization of Africa led to UNHCR’s first involvement in a region
outside of Europe. During the subsequent decades, UNHCR further expanded its reach to Asia and
Latin America in response to the displacing violence of ethnic cleansing, organized crime, and armed
groups. Due to the need for UNHCR’s continued work, the General Assembly decided in 2003 to
prolong its mandate indefinitely.
Most of UNHCR’s resources are dedicated to field operations that address the needs of forcibly
displaced persons, including 25.4 million refugees, 40 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), 10
million stateless persons, and 3.1 million asylum seekers. A refugee is a person who, fearing conflict
or persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or
political conviction, has left the state of their nationality or habitual residence. Whether they are
unable or unwilling to go back to previous residences, refugees are protected under international
law from forced return to conditions that may risk their lives and/or freedom. IDPs differ in that
while they have had to flee their homes, they have not crossed an international border, often
making them more difficult to reach. Stateless people have been denied a nationality due to
discrimination, state succession, or conflict, and subsequently suffer limited access to employment,
medical attention, education, and overall freedom of movement. Asylum seekers are those looking
for protection in a different state, but whose claim for refugee status has not been ascertained.
Additionally, UNHCR aids returnees, those who voluntarily return to their states of origin after
fleeing. The rising number “forced migration” victims is usually attributed to the deteriorating
situations or ongoing conflicts in states such as the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Syria, and Myanmar. UNHCR also works closely with other agencies to
address the needs of an estimated 18.8 million individuals who have been displaced due to natural
disasters, such as the ongoing drought in Somalia.

UNHCR provides a variety of humanitarian aid, including food and nutritional supplements, basic
shelter as well as long-term accommodation such as camps or other forms of housing, cash
assistance, and legal services. While immediate assistance in crises constitutes a large portion of the
body’s work,
UNHCR’s larger goal is to help refugees find durable solutions to rebuild their lives. From 1945 to
1985, UNHCR focused mainly on resettlement, the transferring of refugees from an asylum state to a
different one willing to grant them permanent settlement. As the causes of displacement
increasingly varied, the agency began to utilize the concept of voluntary repatriation, the refugees’
return to their state of origin.
As the number of cases related to refugees seeking to return home expanded during the 1990s,
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UNHCR’s role in reintegration into home states evolved to include infrastructure and community
development, as well as an increased focus on reconciliation and peacebuilding in affected
communities. For cases in which repatriation is not feasible, UNHCR focuses its efforts on refugee
integration into host states; this includes economic, legal, social, and cultural components and often
the granting of asylum or citizenship. The protection of stateless persons’ rights to nationality
constitutes a large portion of this work and is carried out through the advocacy of more inclusive
nationality laws, provision of guidance materials, highlighting good practices for birth registration,
and assistance in overcoming civil registration obstacles.
Given the extensive resources needed by host communities for the above strategies, the UN General
Assembly adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (New York Declaration) in
2016, committing global support and responsibility in dealing with the large numbers of forcibly
displaced persons. It established the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), a global-
scale plan to guarantee refugees their rights and the predominant framing tool for UNHCR’s
proposed global compact for refugees, released in July 2018.

Governance, Structure and Membership

UNHCR, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, currently employs over 11,517 national and
international staff members across 128 Member States. Moreover, UNHCR has increased its initial
$300,000 budget to $8,275,300,000 in 2018 to address the needs of the 68.5 million forcibly
displaced persons worldwide. UNHCR falls under the UN Programmes and Funds, reports annually to
both the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is governed by the
Member States that make up its Executive Committee (ExCom). The ExCom approves the agency’s
annual program priorities and budget. Member States are

elected by ECOSOC as members of the ExCom according to equitable geographical allocations. The
ExCom was originally comprised of 24 members, but has since grown to 102 Member States. The
committee reports directly to the General Assembly Third Committee, and follows directives issued
by either the General Assembly or ECOSOC. The ExCom meets every October to review financial
matters for the coming year, advise the High Commissioner, authorize appeals for funds, and
approve upcoming targets. In 1995, the ExCom created a Standing Committee, which meets three
times per year to discuss the work of the body as a whole and any new situations that arise.

In January 2016, the General Assembly elected High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, to serve a five-
year term. Grandi works in close collaboration with the Senior Executive Team, comprised of the
Deputy High Commissioner, Kelly Clements, the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, George
William Okoth-Obbo, and Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Volker Türk.
UNHCR’s $8,275,300,000 budget rests on four pillars: refugees, stateless people, reintegration
programs, and IDPs. The budget stems almost entirely from voluntary donations by Member States,
intergovernmental institutions, corporations, foundations, and individuals worldwide. To acquire
these donations, UNHCR releases an annual Global Appeal that provides detailed information
regarding the major areas of concern for UNHCR, as well as supplementary appeals that address
specific situations.

The budget also includes contributions from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for
situations requiring immediate response, such as a natural disaster or violent conflict.
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Mandate, Function and Powers

The basis for UNHCR’s mandate is Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948),
which specifically recognizes the right of all individuals to seek asylum in another state. The founding
document of UNHCR is General Assembly resolution 428 (V), known as the Statute of the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (1950). Here, UNHCR’s mandate is defined as:
“providing international protection, under the auspices of the United Nations, to refugees who fall
within the scope of the present Statute and of seeking permanent solutions for the problem of
refugees by assisting governments and … private organizations to facilitate the voluntary
repatriation of such refugees, or their assimilation within new national communities.”

Other documents that guide the work of UNHCR include the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status
of Refugees, which defines the term “refugee” as well as the rights and obligations of refugees, and
the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which expanded the 1951 Convention and
UNHCR’s mandate to include refugees from conflicts occurring after 1951. UNHCR’s mandate also
includes other groups, such as stateless people, as defined in the 1954 Convention Relating to the
Status of Stateless Persons, and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The 1998
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, adopted by ECOSOC, outline the rights and protections
for IDPs.

However, IDP assistance requires consideration of state sovereignty and therefore strong
coordination mechanisms. In 2007, the ExCom adopted the policy framework and implementation
strategy titled UNHCR’s Role in Support of an Enhanced Humanitarian Response to Situations of
Internal Displacement. The framework emphasizes the agency’s primary responsibility to refugees
and stipulates that aid to IDPs must be given in collaboration with national governments, local non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), and other UN agencies. As such, the body’s work with IDPs
operates on a “cluster” approach, in which UNHCR coordinates with relevant agencies to deliver aid
ranging from health care to shelter. The mandate of UNHCR was further expanded in the 2011
ExCom report entitled UNHCR’s Role in Support of an Enhanced Humanitarian Response for the
Protection of Persons Affected by Natural Disasters.

The report emphasizes UNHCR’s primary focus on conflict-related disasters, and that its role in
natural disaster relief should be limited to pre-existing refugee or displacement operations. Notably,
paragraph seven draws attention to Member States as primary actors in initiating and coordinating
humanitarian response and UNHCR’s actions as complementary to those of local governments.
In recent years, partnerships have become central to the organization’s activities and priorities. The
Secretary-General called for the first World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), held on 23-24 May 2016 in
Istanbul, Turkey. Prior to the summit, UNHCR was involved in multiple thematic and regional
consultations, delivering key messages for fostering a more inclusive humanitarian system, bridging
the humanitarian-development divide, and restructuring how the humanitarian field meets its
financial needs. At the WHS, participants highlighted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
(2030 Agenda) to overcome the humanitarian-development divide, meaning the lack of coordination
between overlapping agencies of humanitarian and development aid. Cooperation and partnerships
also underpin the CRRF, whose implementation and development into a global compact on refugees
is UNHCR’s, as stipulated in the New York Declaration.
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Recent Sessions and Current Priorities

UNHCR held its 68th ExCom session between 2-6 October 2017. The ExCom’s debate focused on
several topics related to the protection of refugees, including stronger national asylum systems and
UNHCR’s goal to eradicate statelessness by 2024. The committee’s discussions also addressed the
need for burden- and responsibility-sharing in aiding displaced persons, a central theme in the
implementation and refinement of the CRRF as well as the proposed global compact on refugees.

Since the establishment of the CRRF in 2016, UNHCR has overseen the framework’s application in 12
states within Central America and Africa. UNHCR’s activities between 2017-2018 have
predominately been linked to synthesizing the CRRF’s lessons learned and innovations within its
application for the High Commissioner’s proposed global compact on refugees. The global compact
on refugees has four key objectives, which include easing pressure placed on host states, enhancing
the self-reliance of refugees, expanding third-country solutions access, and supporting states of
origin to promote returnees’ safety and dignity. The compact’s program of action splits into two
categories: “arrangements for burden- and responsibility-sharing” and “areas in need of support.” It
also establishes the Global Refugee Forum, an annual gathering to outline challenges, expand the
number of involved actors, and report on the progress of the compact.

The other major guiding framework is UNHCR’s Strategic Directions 2017-2021. UNHCR outlines its
“five core directions” – protect, respond, include, empower, and solve – in its pursuit to develop
more comprehensive approaches outlined in the CRRF and the global compact. UNHCR’s work in
2018 has also included developing a global compact for safe, orderly, and regular migration,
expanding the protection of rights to encompass both refugees and traditional migrants. The
committee’s 69th session will be held between 1-5 October 2018.

CONCLUSION
There is a growing need for long-term and systematic support for both refugees and their hosting
communities. UNHCR’s work in these areas exemplifies the 2030 Agenda’s goal to encompass all and
leave no one behind in the greater international agenda. Furthermore, durable solutions are the key
for finding greater synergy between the humanitarian and development fields. The CRRF and the
proposed global compact on refugees are the first steps toward a more equitable and responsible
approach to the protection of an ever-growing refugee population.
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Annotated Bibliography
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2017). UNHCR’s Strategic Directions
2017-2021. Retrieved 8 September 2018 from:
http://www.unhcr.org/en us/excom/announce/5894558d4/unhcrs-strategic-directions-2017-
2021.html
This publication breaks down UNHCR’s agenda between 2017-2021. After laying out the statistics
and challenges currently facing refugees, the document outlines the body’s declarations of work
within its five core directions: protect, respond, include, empower, and solve. The last section,
“Making it Work,” provides details on the logistical and technological components needed in all five
conceptional areas of focus. Delegates should use this source for a more concrete understanding of
the UNHCR’s goals and its plans to achieve them.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). The Global Compact on
Refugees: UNHCR Quick Guide. Retrieved 8 September 2017 from:
http://www.unhcr.org/5b6d574a7

UNHCR compiled this quick guide as a comprehensive reference outlining the work on the global
compact for refugees. It delineates the historical steps leading up to the proposed compact released
in July 2018. It also summarizes the essential components of the compact and how it will work upon
its adoption at the General Assembly’s seventy-third session. Delegates should use this source to
ground their understanding of this monumental document so that they can utilize the framework in
prospective resolutions.
Delegates can find the link to the advanced version of the full global compact on refugees in the
bibliography section of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). UNHCR Global
Appeal 2018-2019. Retrieved 7 August 2018 from:
http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/ga2018/pdf/Global_Appeal_2018_full_lowres.pdf
UNHCR regularly produces its Global Appeal, and this document is the latest for the years 2018-2019.
As a document geared primarily toward donors, it outlines the financial requirements of the body’s
work for the upcoming year. It also more specifically underlines the hurdles UNHCR and its partners
face in their efforts to address humanitarian crises. Delegates should use this document to bolster
their understanding of current UNHCR financial priorities and the challenges it faces in carrying out
programs

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). UNHCR Global Report 2017.
Retrieved 6 July 2018 from:
http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/gr2017/pdf/GR2017_English_Full_lowres.pdf
This annual report covers UNHCR’s work completed in 2017. Following an overview of the year, the
report includes regional summaries and thematic updates in sections “Responding with Lifesaving
Support” and “Building Better Futures.” This document reviews the responsibilities of UNHCR as well
as the body’s Global Strategic Priorities for 2016-2017. The report then provides detailed analysis on
the body’s most recent successes and areas of improvement. It is a vital document for delegates’
understanding of the progress of UNHCR’s ongoing efforts and the areas still requiring resolutions to
challenges.
United Nations, General Assembly, Seventy-first session. (2016). New York Declaration for Refugees
and Migrants (A/RES/71/1) [Resolution]. Retrieved 6 July 2018 from: http://undocs.org/A/RES/71/1
This General Assembly resolution contains the New York Declaration, calling for the implementation
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of the CRRF and the development of a global compact on refugees to be headed by UNHCR.
Delegates should use this document to understand the UN’s position on refugee and migration
issues, as well as a reference for the commitments to solidify a global approach to the growing
numbers of refugees made by the General Assembly, and how the UNHCR will be instrumental in
executing them. More specifically, it places the topic of refugee and migration populations within
the context of the 2030 Agenda. Delegates can find details regarding the CRRF and the global
compact in Annex 1 of the resolution.

Bibliography
Chimni, B. (1999). From Resettlement to Involuntary Repatriation: Towards a Critical History of
Durable Solutions to Refugee Problems. New Issues in Refugee Research. Working Paper No. 2.
Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-
us/research/working/3ae6a0c50/resettlement-involuntary repatriation-towards-critical-history-
durable.html

Cohen, R. (2003, December 3). Sovereignty as Responsibility: The Guiding Principles on Internal
Displacement. Retrieved 8 September 2018 from:
https://www.brookings.edu/wp content/uploads/2016/06/20031205.pdf

Forced Migration Online. (2012). What is forced migration? [Website]. Retrieved 14 September
2018from: http://www.forcedmigration.org/about/whatisfm

Macrae, J. (1999). Aiding Peace … and War: UNHCR, Returnee Reintegration, and the
Relief Development Debate. Retrieved 14 September 2018 from:
https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi assets/publications-opinion-files/4967.pdf
New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2017). United Nations Handbook 2017-18.
Retrieved 29 August 2018 from: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Peace-
and Security/United_Nations_Handbook_2017_18.pdf

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (1954). Convention Relating to the
Status of Stateless Persons. Retrieved 14 September 2018 from:
http://www.unhcr.org/3bbb25729.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (1961). Convention on the Reduction
of Statelessness. Retrieved 14 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/3bbb286d8.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (1967). Protocol Relating to the Status
of Refugees. Retrieved 14 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2010). Statute of the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [Report]. Retrieved 14 September 2018 from:
http://www.unhcr.org/3b66c39e1.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2011). Cash in Hand: Urban
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Refugees, the Right to Work and UNHCR’s Advocacy Activities [Report]. Retrieved 14 September
2018 from: http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4e4b75ed2.pdf
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2016, June 20). Statement by the UN
High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on World Refugee Day 2016. Retrieved 14
September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2016/6/5767ad104/statement-un-high-
commissioner refugees-filippo-grandi-world-refugee-day.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2016). UNHCR 2015 Global Trends,
Forced Displacement [Report]. Retrieved 14 September 2018 from:
http://www.unhcr.org/en us/news/latest/2016/6/5763b65a4/global-forced-displacement-hits-
record-high.html

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2017). UNHCR’s Strategic Directions
2017-2021 [Report]. Retrieved 8 September 2018 from:
http://www.unhcr.org/en us/excom/announce/5894558d4/unhcrs-strategic-directions-2017-
2021.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Americas [Website]. Retrieved
6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/americas.html

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Asia and the Pacific [Website].
Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/asia-and-the-pacific.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Asylum-Seekers [Website].
Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/asylum-seekers.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). CRRF Global Digital Portal
[Website]. Retrieved 7 August 2018 from: http://www.globalcrrf.org/
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Donors [Website]. Retrieved 5
August 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c26c.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Ending Statelessness
[Website]. Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c155.html

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). ExCom Membership [Website].
Retrieved 5 August 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-
us/excom/scaf/574c362c4/excom membership.html

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). ExCom plenary sessions
[Website]. Retrieved 5 August 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/excom-plenary-sessions.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Executive Committee
[Website]. Retrieved 5 August 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c83.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Figures at a Glance [Website].
Retrieved 5 August 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). The Global Appeal and
Supplementary Appeals [Website]. Retrieved 29 July 2018 from:
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c26f.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Global compact on refugees.
Retrieved 14 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/5b51fd587
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). The Global Compact on
 12

Refugees: UNHCR Quick Guide. Retrieved 8 September 2017 from:

http://www.unhcr.org/5b6d574a7

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Global Trends: Forced
Displacement in 2017 [Website]. Retrieved 6 September 2018 from:
http://www.unhcr.org/globaltrends2017/
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Governance and Oversight
[Website]. Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/governance.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). The High Commissioner
[Website]. Retrieved 29 August 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/the-high-
commissioner.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). History of UNHCR [Website].
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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Internally Displaced
People[Website]. Retrieved 6 September 2018 from:
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c146.html

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). List of Members and
Observers [Website]. Retrieved 8 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-
us/excom/scaf/5748082a4/list members-observers-2015-2016.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Local Integration [Website].
Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/local-integration-49c3646c101.html

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Partnerships [Website].
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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Protection [Website].
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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Refugees [Website]. Retrieved
6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/refugees.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Resettlement [Website].
Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/resettlement.html

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Returnees [Website].
Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/returnees.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Senior Executive Team
[Website]. Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/senior-executive-team.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Solutions [Website]. Retrieved
6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/solutions.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018, June 20). Statement by UN
High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi on World Refugee Day 2018. Retrieved 8 September
2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/press/2018/6/5b28bef94/statement-un-high-
commissioner refugees-filippo-grandi-world-refugee-day.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). Towards a global compact on
refugees [Website]. Retrieved 6 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/towards-a-
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global compact-on-refugees.html
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). 2018 Executive Committee
Session [Website]. Retrieved 8 September 2018 from: http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/5b56ee3c4
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). UNHCR Global Appeal 2018-
2019. Retrieved 7 August 2018 from:
http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/ga2018/pdf/Global_Appeal_2018_full_lowres.pdf

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). UNHCR Global Report 2017.
Retrieved 6 July 2018 from:
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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2018). UN Sister Organizations
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2018 from: https://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WP1461-Report-1.pdf
 15

THE UNHCR MUN REFUGEE CHALLENGE

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is challenging Model United Nations delegates worldwide to
debate the major issues related to forced displacement. The best resolutions will win awards and be
shared with policymakers. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is launching the MUN Refugee Challenge
to encourage students worldwide to shape solutions for people forced to flee their homes. This
guide was drafted to help students prepare for their debates.

TOPIC 1

CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISPLACEMENT

Climate change, extreme weather events, environmental degradation and natural disasters are
increasingly interacting and overlapping with the drivers of refugee movements, such as conflict,
human rights abuses and other forms of persecution. An earthquake, typhoon or flood might force
people to abandon their homes very quickly; drought, erosion, desertification, gradual sea

level rise or pollution might create slow-building crises. On occasions, communities can be affected
by multiple factors – flooding in Somalia in 2019 followed years of drought, for example. Such events
might drive displacement on their own, or when added to the Al-Shabab-related violence plaguing
the country might be the “final straw” for already vulnerable communities.

Most climate change displacement is internal, with those affected remaining within their national
borders: according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, there were 18.8 million new
 16

disaster-related internal displacements recorded in 2017. According to the World Bank, climate
change may cause as many as 143 million people to be internally displaced by 2050 based on
scenarios in three major climate “hot spots” – Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America.
Displacement across borders also occurs and may be interrelated with situations of conflict or
violence. Of the 20.4 million refugees under UNHCR’s mandate at the end of 2018, a third were
located in the world’s least developed countries, which are often highly vulnerable to the adverse
effects of climate change, or which suffer from a scarcity of resources and infrastructure.
According to Oxfam, low- and lower-middle income nations, such as India, are over four times more
likely to be affected by climate-fueled displacement than high-income countries like Spain or the US.
impact of natural disasters and the more gradual effects of climate change — such as rising sea
levels for coastal communities, longer and harsher droughts, floods affecting agricultural land in low
lying coastal areas or the creep of desertification — can create new displaced populations and pose
challenges for existing ones.
Both refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) tend to live in disaster-prone areas and climate
change hotspots. In urban areas, they tend to settle in poorer areas, including in informal
settlements that lack adequate shelter, infrastructure and basic services. This in turn increases the
risk of further displacement – that they will be forced to move on in search of better conditions.
Climate change can also affect the idea of “safe and dignified” return, completely changing the idea
of what a durable solution is. Natural and man-made disasters, competition for land and/or
resources, and hardship or extreme poverty caused or exacerbated by those disasters can make
returning home a practical impossibility.
Competition for resources can be intensified by large-scale movements of displaced people.

Many IDPs and refugees rely on the environment for survival – for food, shelter, energy, fire and
warmth, medicine, agriculture, income generation activities and more. The sudden additional
pressures on the environment can lead to friction with host communities, while the unsustainable
use of natural resources can lead to environmental degradation, with lasting effects.

Legal problems and Solutions

Should climate change or natural disasters cause people to flee across borders, they may not come
under the definition of refugee as a person who has crossed an international border “owing to well-
founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a
particular social group or political opinion”. So, although the term “climate refugee” is often used in
the media, it does not actually exist in international law.
However, where people are displaced as a result of disasters or climate-related factors that are
interlinked with conflict or persecution, the 1951 Refugee Convention is likely to apply. (Internally
displaced persons are protected by Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.)
Some people displaced across borders in the context of climate change or natural disasters may fall
within the definition of “refugee” under regional instruments if and when flight is a result of a
serious disturbance to public order. (These include the 1969 OAU Convention or the Cartagena
Declaration.)
In sum, international law can have a role to play in a wide range of situations involving climate
 17

change and forced displacement. UNHCR is involved in developing the legal frameworks relating to
climate change and displacement, addressing the protection gaps for people displaced in the context
of climate change and disasters.

WHAT IS BEING DONE?

Responding to climate catastrophes: While the legal aspects of climate change and displacement are
evolving, humanitarian aid organisations such as UNHCR are already involved in emergencies in
which climate change, extreme weather events and environmental degradation are a factor. There
have been several examples over the past decade, including:

• In 2010, after an earthquake devastated Haiti, UNHCR helped both Haitian IDPs and refugees in the
Dominican Republic with access to livelihoods and returns, as well as taking on familiar protection
roles such as reducing the risk of trafficking and sexual and gender-based violence, and the
promotion of family reunion.

• Since the mass displacement of Rohingya Muslims in mid-2017, UNHCR has been helping refugees
in southern Bangladesh to mitigate the effects of monsoon storms, flooding and landslides.
• In November 2018, UNHCR airlifted thousands of tents to western Afghanistan for more than a
quarter of a million people displaced by a mix of conflict and severe drought.
• When Tropical Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in March 2019, UNHCR
relocated refugee families to safer shelters and provided them with tents, plastic sheeting,
sanitation equipment and clean water.
Anticipating and preventing climate-fuelled displacement: Early warning systems and forecasting can
help better prepare the response to climate related events. UNHCR has also issued guidance on
planned relocation, which seeks to move people out of harm’s way when hazards such as rises in sea
levels threaten to render certain areas uninhabitable. In August 2017, for instance, the agency took
part in an exercise led by the governments of Costa Rica and Panama to simulate a disaster and deal
in real time with the “virtual fallout” — following up by issuing guidelines for the kind of protections
displaced people in such a scenario might need.
Mitigating the environmental impact of displacement: UN agencies and partner organisations are
also seeking new ways to reduce the environmental impact of mass displacement. For example, to
reduce foraging for firewood, which can antagonise local populations as well as reduce the harmful
health and environmental effects of burning fuel in inefficient and “dirty” stoves, UNHCR has
supported a programme to distribute liquefied petroleum gas to Rohingya refugees and host
communities in Bangladesh, providing a clean and reliable source of energy for cooking. In 2017,
Azraq refugee camp in Jordan became the world’s first refugee camp powered by renewable energy.
And in northern Uganda, UNHCR is supporting a large-scale reforestation effort to replenish trees
cut down for shelters and cooking fires.
 18

Questions to guide debate

• Should the term “climate refugee” be used or avoided?

• Is there a need for a new legal framework for people displaced due to climate change?

What would be the implications? How to take account of the fact that displacement may result from
multiple factors?

Are all people moving as a result of climate change in need of protection?

• Who takes responsibility when people are displaced because of climate change, extreme weather
events, environmental degradation and natural disasters?

If such movements increase because of rising sea levels affecting coastal communities, who should
take the lead in assisting, protecting and resettling them?
• How can displacement movements fuelled by climate change and environmental catastrophes be
better anticipated and prevented?
• How to limit the environmental impact of refugees, especially in camps with large refugee
populations (e.g. Bangladesh, Kenya, Ethiopia)?

• How to make sure the international response to environmental displacement doesn’t only focus on
extreme weather events such as cyclones, but also on slow onset phenomena like desertification
and rising sea levels?
• How to prevent tensions or conflicts that may arise between displaced communities and host
communities as a result of competition over natural resources?
• How can refugees and internally displaced people be involved in mitigating environmental risks?
Can involving displaced communities in combatting climate change present economic opportunities?
 19

TOPIC 2

SUPPORTING THE ECONOMIC INCLUSION OF REFUGEES

THE CHALLENGE
The right to work: The right to work is set out in the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and various other regional and international instruments such as the
International Covenant on Economic Cultural and Social Rights. Nonetheless, refugees are not
allowed to work in around 50% of asylum countries. They are further hindered by restrictions on
their movement, a lack of access to education, restrictions on rights concerning housing and land,
and a lack of access to business-crucial services such as banking and training.

Confusion between refugees and migrants: People tend to confuse refugees and migrants, yet the
two terms have distinct meanings. Refugees are persons fleeing armed conflict and persecution and
crossing borders to find safety.
They are defined in, and protected by, international law. Migrants chose to move not because of a
direct threat of persecution or death, but mainly to improve their lives by finding work, and in some
cases for education, family reunion, or other reasons. Blurring the two terms takes

attention away from the specific legal protections refugees require. It can undermine public support
for refugees and make the numbers look less manageable than they are. Refugees and asylum-
seekers only make up 10.6 per cent of all international migrants, and 0.34 per cent of the entire
world population, according to UNDESA data.
Political discourse: Refugees are often cast as an economic burden for host countries, although
research provides ample evidence that they are not. In Europe, for example, far-right parties often
prey on the fear that refugees may be taking jobs, undercutting wages and putting pressure on
public resources (e.g. hospitals, schools, transport, welfare).
Labour exploitation: Refugees who face obstacles to formal job opportunities may fall victim to
exploitation in the labour market. They face a broad range of challenges, including underpayment,
 20

risk of injury, job insecurity, lack of rights and discrimination.

Refugees in developing countries: A large majority of the world’s refugees –85 per cent – live in
developing countries. The size of the host country’s population and the strength of its economy will
affect how they cope with the economic impact of refugee flows. Countries bordering Syria, such as
Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, have received the largest refugee populations relative to their host
populations.
According to the OECD, South Sudan, Chad and Uganda host the largest refugee populations as a
share of gross domestic product. Eight of the top ten countries with the highest number of refugees
in relation to GDP are in Africa.
Host countries with limited economic growth and high unemployment rates need international
support to cope with the cost of refugee arrivals and to facilitate the economic integration of
refugees.

Why economic inclusion is key

Including refugees in the economies of their host countries is widely recognised as an effective way
of increasing their independence, boosting the economic health of local communities, and restoring
dignity to forcibly displaced people who have lost most (and perhaps all) of their possessions and
livelihoods.

Rebuilding lives: After fleeing war or persecution, the opportunity to work and earn a living is one of
the most effective ways people can rebuild their lives with dignity and in peace. UNHCR puts
economic inclusion at the heart of several of its core principles, including protection, equality, access
and sustainability. Through safe work, people forced to flee can meet their families’ basic needs,
maintain their dignity, improve their self-reliance and resilience, and contribute to society – which is
what they want.
Safety: Safe employment also gives refugees the means to meet their own needs without resorting
 21

to negative coping mechanisms, such as finding work in the grey and black economies or putting
their children to work. It protects them from exploitation by criminal organisations, as well as
reducing the likelihood of onward movement in search of work elsewhere.

Economic growth: Many studies show that refugees can boost the economy of the countries that
host them, even in low to middle-income countries.

In Kenya, for example, UNHCR worked with the World Bank Group on a study that found that the
180,000 refugees in and around Kakuma camp were contributing to an economy worth US$56
million a year, sparking a programme to encourage more private-sector investment.

Skills: Refugees with access to labour markets often enrich their host communities with their
experience and skills. Those who are allowed to go to school and progress to higher education,
including technical and vocational training, are better equipped for their futures, whether in their
host communities, after resettlement to a third country, or when they return home.
Gender equality: Employment and entrepreneurship also have a role to play in gender equality and
protection. Women with an income – and who have a physical workplace to go to – are better
protected against gender-based violence, are more independent and better able to provide for and
protect their families. Female refugees who work also do not have to rely on an income from their
children working on the streets, enabling them to attend school instead.
Yet according to a 2018 report by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, in the
36 countries classified by the World Bank as fragile and conflict-affected states, only 4 in 10 women
are in paid work, compared to 7 in p10 men.

Responses and Solutions

Rights: Entrepreneurship is just one aspect of “economic inclusion”. To thrive in business and the
labour market, refugees also need reassuring that they have the same rights as locals when it comes
to access to services, administrative processes, and legal rights and protections. Otherwise, the
danger arises that refugees will split off into separate or parallel economic ecosystems.

A list of rights that would enable refugees to work would include the granting of work permits, the
right to own property, ending restrictions on foreign ownership of businesses, and permitting
investment in refugee businesses from abroad (for example, from personal contacts and networks in
their home countries, or from other overseas private sector supporters).
Training and resources: When refugees live in countries where their diplomas and experience are
not recognized or where their skills are not in demand, one option is to provide skills training and
apprenticeships. Refugees can be allowed access to a wide range of training programmes – from
accountancy and law to technology, financial management, marketing and investment.

For example, in 2016, the German government created a programme providing regional vocational
centers with the funds to enroll refugees in a six-month apprenticeship scheme including training in
trades such as metal and electrical work, as well as language and integration classes.
Supporting host communities: Ensuring that host countries already facing economic difficulties are
not left behind is a core principle of the Global Compact on Refugees, adopted in 2018. According to
the Compact: “To foster inclusive economic growth for host communities and refugees, in support of
 22

host countries and subject to their relevant national laws and policies, States and relevant
stakeholders will contribute resources and expertise to promote economic opportunities, decent
work, job creation and entrepreneurship programmes for host community members and refugees,
including women, young adults, older persons and persons with disabilities.”
Integrated settlements are a good example of initiatives that support the economic well-being of
both refugees and host communities. These are areas where refugees and host populations are
provided with the same rights of access to the labour market and the same opportunities to receive
cash-based assistance, training and other resources. One example is the Kalobeyei settlement in
Kenya.
Private-sector support: The private sector has a key role to play in supporting the economic inclusion
of refugees. Businesses can offer employment and training, but also a wide range of technologies
and goods that can facilitate refugees’ access to the job market.
An example of private-sector involvement in refugees’ economic inclusion is the Tent Partnership for
Refugees, founded by Hamdi Ulukaya, CEO of Chobani, which works with businesses to identify and
understand opportunities to help refugees, in areas ranging from employment and training to supply
chains, service delivery and expertise.

Another example is the Association of German Chambers of Commerce, which has joined forces with
the government to establish a network of more than 2,000 companies, including many small and
medium enterprises, to help refugees integrate into the labour force.
Cash-based assistance: In 2016, UNHCR began expanding cash-based assistance, giving refugees the
choice in how they spend the money and benefitting local economies as they buy essential goods in
local stores and pay for local services. It also enables them to pay their rent, buy medicines, pay off
debts and start businesses.

Community support: Integrating into a new country and finding employment, on top of recovering
from the traumatic experience of fleeing war and persecution, can be extremely difficult. Host
communities and NGOs play an important role in supporting the local integration of refugees and
helping them access the job market. Community support can take the form of legal advice, language
courses, support with writing CVs and preparing for interviews, access to computers for job search,
and so on.

Questions to Guide Debate

• How can we expand the rights of refugees to access the labour markets of their host countries?
• How can we convince businesses to play their part in supporting the economic inclusion of
refugees? What are the obstacles and how can they be overcome?
• How can governments in refugee-heavy regions balance the need to support refugees with the
needs of their own citizens when it comes to employment and business? How can the private sector
help in this regard?
• How can we tackle the unfounded fear that refugees present an economic threat? How can we
counter political narratives that perpetuate this?
• What are the priorities for supporting the economic inclusion of refugees in resettlement countries,
such as Germany or the USA, as opposed to host countries, such as Lebanon or Bangladesh?
• In host countries, what are the priorities for supporting the economic inclusion of refugees living in
camps (40 per cent) as opposed to urban areas (60 per cent)?
 23

• How can we better link up schools and universities where refugees are studying with future
employers?