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State security and Refugee Protection, not contradictory but complementary

On Tuesday 12 of April a Roundtable organized jointly by UNHCR and the Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan explored the issues of asylum system and their correlation with the national security.

As Ms Sibylle Kapferer, UNHCR expert from the Division of International Protection of the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, underlined, “States have the important responsibility to both protect refugees and ensure national security. The tools that will protect refugees while ensuring that national security concerns are addressed are provided for in the international treaties signed by States”.
 
Participants of the Roundtable, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Security Committee, Prosecutor General Office, diplomatic community and UN agencies shared their ideas and thoughts about national security and refugee protection and how these should be coordinated with each other. Participants highlighted the many challenges that can be found today in refugee protection and protection of borders and national security, and how the role of the States is crucial to respond to these realities.

As Mr. Bernard Doyle, UNHCR Regional Representative and Regional Coordinator underlined, “Currently, in the view of global displacement, and increased concerns of the states about national security, I should note that refugee protection and national security are not mutually exclusive, but complementary. Establishing and maintaining a robust asylum system in the country may contribute in an important way to preserve national security. I believe that Central Asian states can set an example in this regard”.

During the Roundtable it was emphasised, that UNHCR shares the legitimate concern of States to ensure national security and is ready to provide support in order to improve asylum systems in Central Asia. State representatives reiterated in the meeting their commitment to follow the letter of international commitments, and make the protection of refugees a part of a unified effort to improve both State and human security.