East Asia and the Pacific

Operational Environment and Strategy

Mixed flows of urban asylum-seekers and migrants from South-West Asia, the Middle East and Africa continue to be the main trend of the subregion.
 
The central challenge for UNHCR is to assist States in shaping responses that balance concerns for border and migration control with the protection of asylum-seekers’ rights.
 
The organization is pursuing dialogue with all relevant actors to foster regional cooperation rather than unilateral deterrence measures, to avoid people of concern being rejected at the border; the detention of asylum-seekers; and the development of restrictive asylum policies.
 
In Australia, restrictive policy changes introduced previously were further reinforced by the coalition Government, elected in September 2013.
 
The new Government reduced the humanitarian programme from 20,000 resettlement places in the fiscal year 2012-2013 to 13,750 places in 2014-2015, of which 6,000 are expected to be available for UNHCR-referred refugees. In September 2014, Australia and Cambodia signed a memorandum of understanding for the relocation of recognized refugees from Nauru to Cambodia.
 
In New Zealand, the overall climate for refugee protection remained positive, with a modest but well-managed resettlement programme and consistent financial support. However, legislation to deter boat arrivals came into force in 2013.
 
In Papua New Guinea, there have been positive steps toward integrating West Papuan refugees, including the announcement that the citizenship fee will be waived. A clearer legal basis for refugee protection is also in the process of being drafted in the new Migration Act.
Pacific Island Countries are strengthening collaboration around border management and are gradually accommodating refugee protection into laws, policies and activities, while UNHCR continues to process the small number of asylum-seekers who move into the region.
China is becoming a transit and destination country for mixed migration as a result of its geographical and economic importance. The operational environments in mainland China, and the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs) continue to be at variance.
 
In Hong Kong SAR, China, a unified screening mechanism (USM) to assess claims for protection against refoulement before executing removal orders became operational in March. As a result, UNHCR has ceased its asylum-screening procedures and refocused on providing the authorities with capacity-building assistance and closely monitoring USM implementation.
 
Macao SAR, China, is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and is implementing refugee legislation through a refugees’ commission, in consultation with UNHCR.
 
In Japan, the Ministry of Justice has established a sub-committee to review the country’s asylum system, which is expected to introduce measures to improve the system’s fairness and efficiency. UNHCR provides technical advice to the committee and will participate in drawing up the final recommendations. Following completion of a pilot phase, the Government has decided to start a formal resettlement programme in 2015.
 
The asylum system in the Republic of Korea is relatively recent. UNHCR is thus helping to build national capacity with executive, judiciary and legislative bodies, as well as with the public and civil society organizations.

Response and Implementation

In Australia and New Zealand, UNHCR will monitor decision-making processes, and use diplomatic and public advocacy to focus on preserving the non-discriminatory implementation of asylum, irrespective of how asylum-seekers arrive. The aims are to improve admission to RSD procedures, pursue alternatives to detention and expand the search for durable solutions.
 
In Papua New Guinea, UNHCR will facilitate durable solutions for West Papuan refugees, especially local integration, and will support the capacity of government and NGO partners to provide effective protection and assistance to non-Melanesian asylum-seekers and refugees.
 
Meanwhile States in the Pacific Island Countries, will receive UNHCR support to introduce protection safeguards in immigration procedures and establish and/or reinforce RSD capacity through training.
 
In China, UNHCR will continue to balance the direct delivery of protection and assistance services to asylum-seekers and refugees with a move to providing greater advocacy and technical support for central and provincial authorities. The aim is to gradually capacitate the latter to take over responsibility for registration, asylum processing and of the realization of durable solutions for those needing international protection.
 
In Hong Kong SAR, China, UNHCR will monitor the unified screening mechanism, provide technical support to the authorities and help find durable solutions. Public awareness will accompany successful fund raising activities.
 
In Japan, UNHCR’s refugee protection activities will support the authorities in refocusing their reception, RSD and local integration mechanisms, including by following up on the recommendations of the sub-committee on asylum.
 
In the Republic of Korea, the Office will advocate better access to the asylum system and social services for the approximately 6,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. UNHCR will also support the Government’s efforts to prepare for a resettlement programme.