Operations

2016 Plan Summary

In Malaysia, the lack of a legal framework for refugees continues to pose challenges for people of concern. UNHCR advocates with the Government to address protection risks, including by preventing detention and deportation, and improve access to legal support and basic services. UNHCR also seeks to raise awareness of the vulnerability of people of concern to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and trafficking. Recent revelations of mass graves in Malaysia and the Bay of Bengal maritime crisis have highlighted the serious risks to which refugees are exposed.
 
The Government provides health services to refugees at a discounted rate, complementing UNHCR’s efforts, which include a private health insurance initiative.
 
Statelessness is high on the political agenda, and UNHCR continues to advocate that the Government develops systems to measure the extent of statelessness situation in Malaysia.
 
In 2016, UNHCR will continue to focus on ensuring access to asylum procedures and durable solutions, registration, detention release, education, health, and self-sufficiency. The Office’s strategy builds on the processing arrangements launched in 2015. These include a status verification process which has been established for quicker identification of protection needs, prioritizing those with heightened vulnerabilities such as unaccompanied and separated children and victims of SGBV, as well as individuals in detention who need to be registered with UNHCR. Concurrently, solutions will be pursued for other groups of concern: improvements in Myanmar may provide durable solutions opportunities including voluntary repatriation; and UNHCR will also work to promote self-reliance, including through regularization of temporary status and access to income-generating activities.  
 
Funding shortfalls will adversely affect UNHCR’s ability to ensure refugees’ access to basic services or facilitate the release of people of concern from detention.