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UNHCR's protection chief calls for a balance between refugee protection national security and border control in Central Asia

UNHCR's protection chief Ms Erika Feller today appealed to Central Asian governments to strike a proper balance between refugee protection, national security and border control amidst rising concerns about population movements in the region.

Ms Feller, UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, was speaking at the opening session of a conference on Refugee Protection and International Migration which opened today in Almaty, Kazakhstan. "Migration is not a new phenomenon in the region, but remains an important issue for governments. While the key drivers of today's movements are economic benefits, forced displacement also continues to be a reality," said Feller noting that Central Asia hosts many refugees from Afghanistan and other countries and that internal conflict continues to be a threat.

The UN refugee agency's top protection official cautioned that refugee protection risked being overshadowed by the rising focus on labour migration, irregular migration and human trafficking, noting that refugees often travel alongside others on the move. "Too often, refugees are equated with migrants in an irregular situation, and viewed negatively by the general public or in the media," Feller continued.

The two-day regional conference brings together governments, civil society and international organizations to explore collaborative responses to challenges of mixed migration in Central Asia.

Feller urged conference delegates to explore how effective asylum systems and better integration of refugees can help states find the right balance between national security and managing borders on the one hand, and refugee protection on the other.

"Asylum systems that work properly are an effective way for states to regulate who should and who should not be making a claim for their assistance and support," said Feller.

"Third country nationals are registered, their stories are exposed to detailed considerations and those who have been involved in serious crimes will be put into an appropriate response process" she said.

Feller noted that almost all countries in Central Asia ratified the Refugee Convention and that they had significant experience in helping people to overcome the traumatizing consequences of forced displacement, and that there were examples of good practice within the region for the conference delegates to build upon.

"The recently adopted Border Management Strategy in Tajikistan is a local example of good practice which includes refugee protection considerations within a broader migration strategy - including important safeguards for human rights and the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers," Feller said.

The regional conference is organized by UNHCR together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventative Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), and is supported by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). It is hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan and organized with finanacial support of the . It is the fifth in a series of regional gatherings on refugee protection and international migration. The others were held in Yemen (May 2008), Senegal (November 2008), Costa Rica (November 2009) and Tanzania (September 2010).