Operations in Czech Republic
Working environment
The UNHCR Office in Prague, Czech Republic, opened in 1992 following Czechoslovakia’s accession to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. After the split of the Czechoslovak federation in 1993, the Czech Republic also acceded to the 1951 Convention.
The republic passed the Asylum Act in January 2000, which explicitly defines the role of UNHCR in the asylum process. The Asylum Act originally allowed asylum-seekers to work legally in the Czech Republic immediately after they submitted their asylum application. But because foreigners began to use asylum procedures as a way to obtain work permits and legalize their stay in the country, a 2002 amendment removed this clause.
Since 2001, Czech authorities have been granting asylum on humanitarian grounds, chiefly to people who are severely handicapped or otherwise vulnerable. People granted humanitarian asylum enjoy the same rights as refugees.
There were 753 asylum applications in the Czech Republic in 2012 including five unaccompanied minors and separated children. In 2012, 44 people were recognized as refugees and 140 received a complementary form of protection. Most of the asylum-seekers came from the Ukraine, Syria, Vietnam, Belarus and the Russian Federation.
Projects and activities
Through protection activities, programmes, and public information, the main objective of UNHCR in the Czech Republic is to support the government’s efforts to establish a comprehensive and sustainable asylum system that promotes self-reliance among refugees.
UNHCR protection activities are oriented to ensure the best possible decision-making and services. The agency is actively involved in the preparation of all relevant legislation, and encourages adherence to the Asylum Act. The Czech office monitors decision-making with the aim of ensuring that refugee status determination procedures remain fair and efficient. UNHCR also assists judges when dealing with asylum appeals.
UNHCR has taken part in the implementation of the Foster Care Act, which addresses the serious issue of children asylum-seekers who are separated from their parents. The Czech offices also co-operates with academics and specialized organizations, which are studying issues such as the risks experienced by women and children asylum seekers. UNHCR also arranges for NGO partners to provide legal and social counselling to asylum seekers and refugees.
As the Czech Republic does not have any external EU borders, UNHCR monitors the entry of asylum-seekers and their access to asylum procedures at the Prague International Airport.
Since 2007, UNHCR Czech Republic has been participating in annual assessments as part of the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) worldwide strategy. Teams made up of governmental, non-governmental, and UNHCR representatives visit detention, reception and accommodation facilities to assess the situation, and the needs of asylum-seekers and refugees. Practical solutions are later drafted.
Since the rollout of the AGD, integration standards have become one of UNHCR’s priorities in the Czech Republic. The agency participated in the development of the country’s Concept of the State Integration Program, and continues to monitor it.
UNHCR programmes have been implemented in co-operation with Czech NGOs. UNHCR provides funding, advice, and training to these programs. It also gives significant funds to cover the costs of social and legal counselling for asylum-seekers and refugees in the reception centres, refugee facilities and main detention centres.
UNHCR Czech Republic also pays special attention to Roma issues as part of its interest in statelessness. The agency launched the Roma pilot programme in 1995, which focuses on both the de facto and de jure stateless Roma population in the country, a situation that came about after the split of Czechoslovakia. UNHCR helped establish the Citizenship Advisory Centre in 1996, and provides it with legal expertise in individual cases. The agency has also proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act.