Tajikistan

 

Operation: Opération: Tajikistan

Location

{"longitude":71,"latitude":39,"zoom_level":7,"iso_codes":"'TJK'"}

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Key Figures

2019 year-end results
12,100 people of undetermined nationality were identified and registered
9,700 9,700 people of undetermined nationality had their citizenship confirmed with the support of UNHCR
3,000 people of concern benefitted from legal assistance through partners
900 children from vulnerable families received school uniforms, books and stationery
800 people of concern received free medical consultations, and 700 were referred to specialized medical care
200 households (over 600 people) with specific needs received cash support
100 children had their births registered and obtained birth certificates with assistance from NGO partners
25 youth received DAFI scholarships
80% of children were enrolled in primary and secondary school
70% of adult persons of concern were engaged in some form of employment or income-generation activity. Nearly 300 people received support for vocational training courses, over 100 people for job placements, and another 100 for apprenticeships
2020 planning figures
10,000 persons with undetermined nationality will be assisted with confirmation of nationality
350 refugee children will be enrolled in primary education and 150 refugee students enrolled in upper secondary education
240 people with specific needs will receive cash grants

People of Concern Personnes relevant de la compétence du HCR

63%
Increase in
2019
2019 12,355
2018 7,588
2017 13,465

 

[["Refugees",3791],["Asylum-seekers",1413],["Stateless",7151]]
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Tajikistan

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2019 {"categories":[2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020],"budget":[2.71827858,4.06714081,2.3477323200000004,2.18172685,2.33346212,2.3699997],"expenditure":[1.73002601,1.74338304,1.72010539,1.71112675,1.64907275,null]} {"categories":[2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020],"p1":[2.18001327,2.46243189,1.57740333,1.56886176,1.31787736,1.5412469],"p2":[0.5382653100000001,1.60470892,0.77032899,0.61286509,1.01558476,0.8287528000000001],"p3":[null,null,null,null,null,null],"p4":[null,null,null,null,null,null]} {"categories":[2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020],"p1":[1.2551468300000002,0.88180128,1.07604334,1.17042623,0.85945573,null],"p2":[0.47487918,0.86158176,0.64406205,0.54070052,0.78961702,null],"p3":[null,null,null,null,null,null],"p4":[null,null,null,null,null,null]}
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Year-end Overview

Operational context

In 2019, UNHCR focused on the eradication of statelessness; partnerships for a sustainable asylum system, including solutions for refugees with an emphasis on local integration; and emergency preparedness.
Since the launch of the #IBelong campaign in 2014, Tajikistan has made significant progress resolving statelessness through legislative and policy changes, as well as confirming nationality for a large number of identified cases. At the High-Level Segment on Statelessness in October 2019, the Government announced four important pledges:
  • to adopt an amnesty law to provide legal status to stateless persons;
  • to finalize the reform of the civil registration system and ensure universal birth registration for every child born in Tajikistan;
  • to explore the extent of statelessness in the country through the 2020 national population census; and
  • to consider accession to the two statelessness conventions.
Tajikistan was the first country in Central Asia to accede to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol and to enact national refugee legislation, amended in 2014 to largely conform to international standards. UNHCR continued to advocate with the Government to address remaining gaps in the legal framework. The operation also worked with the Government and private sector to support livelihood opportunities for vulnerable youth from both refugee and host communities.  

Population trend

At the end of 2019 Tajikistan was host to nearly 3,800 refugees (compared to less than 2,700 in 2018), and more than 7,100 stateless persons and people with undetermined nationality. The Government reported some 3,200 new arrivals during the year, and almost 650 families applied for asylum – a significant increase from 2018. Almost all asylum-seekers were of Afghan nationality.

Nearly 300 cases, representing over 700 refugees, were processed for admission to Canada under the private sponsorship programme in 2019, while more than 70 people chose to return to Afghanistan with the support of UNHCR.

NGO partners identified and registered an additional 12,100 people with undetermined nationality, over 70% female. During the year, nearly 9,700 people with undetermined nationality had their citizenship confirmed.

Achievements

  • UNHCR’s advocacy and technical support contributed to the adoption of the amnesty law, which allows stateless persons and foreign nationals residing in Tajikistan without legal status to legalize their stay without penalty.
  • Following UNHCR’s advocacy, the Government committed to ensuring universal birth registration and identification of the population at risk of statelessness by the end of 2024.
  • UNHCR established new private sector partnerships with the Auchan hypermarket chain and the Serena and Hyatt Hotels, creating livelihood opportunities for people of concern.
  • A country-wide profiling exercise was carried out, and an increased outreach strengthened referrals and understanding of the living conditions of people of concern.
  • Contingency planning, capacity-building and emergency preparedness with local authorities, the United Nations system and NGO partners continued, including through an annual work plan with the Committee on Emergency Situation (CoES) and a simulation exercise in July 2019 targeting 120 participants from government, international organizations and NGOs.

Unmet needs

The operation was only funded 13% by the end of 2019. UNHCR was unable to provide emergency cash and medical assistance to all people with specific needs and had to prioritize the most vulnerable. Funding to cover school needs, support for peaceful co-existence projects and other programmes was significantly reduced.

Plan Overview

Operational Environment

In 2019, the political and socio-economic situation in Tajikistan is expected to start changing due to improved relations with Uzbekistan, whilst the security situation on the borders with Afghanistan will remain a concern for Tajikistan. Despite the dire economic situation, Tajikistan continues accepting and hosting refugees, arriving mainly from Afghanistan. The Government provides an unhindered access to education and healthcare for refugees. However, access to territory and freedom of residence remain challenging. The Resolutions which prohibit refugees from residing in urban areas are strictly enforced and non-compliance results in the rejection of asylum applications, the revocation of refugee status and deportation. Despite guaranteed legal right to work, refugees’ access to jobs and livelihoods remains challenging due to prevailing economic situation in the country and residence in the government authorised areas only. The Government demonstrates greater acknowledgement and commitment to address statelessness through confirming citizenship to an increasing number of persons with undetermined nationality. 
 
During 2019, UNHCR will invest technical and material support to the Department for Citizenship and Works with Refugees (DCWR) and the Border Guards, and establish an MoU with the Office of the General Prosecutor and the Ombudsman’s Office. This cooperation aims to strengthen capacity of the state counterparts to identify and process statelessness cases and provide lasting solutions. In the context of refugee solutions, key partners include the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Education, Health, Social Welfare and Labour. The key partnership with the Executive Apparatus of the President will be operationalized through implementation of a joint Work-plan to be finalized in 2018. On statelessness, the UNHCR will further strengthen partnerships with the Passport Registration Services under the Ministries of Internal Affairs for active engagement in the provincial locations, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice for support to reduction of statelessness.
 
UNHCR’s two NGO partners will provide legal and social assistance to refugees and other two NGOs will be carrying out statelessness reduction and prevention activities. On birth registration, UNHCR will continue cooperation with UNICEF and UNDP, jointly advocating for legislative and policy changes.

Key Priorities

In 2019, UNHCR will focus on:
  • Eradication and prevention of statelessness through technical assistance to the Government in the revision of legislation; carrying out country-wide registration, facilitating legal aid to stateless persons, as well as improving birth registration legislation and practices.
  • Strengthening partnerships for sustainable asylum systems, through activities on introduction of a National Referral Mechanism for asylum seekers at the borders, bringing the national asylum procedures in line with international standards, strengthening the legal protection through enhanced cooperation with judicial bodies and regularization of legal status of Mandate refugees. Efforts on achieving long-term solutions for refugees will include enhancing self-reliance and access to livelihoods opportunities, promoting local integration through alternative stay arrangements and facilitating informed voluntary repatriation.
  • Emergency preparedness, which will encompass a range of activities dedicated to enhancing the inter-agency response capacity for a possible refugee influx from Afghanistan.
Latest contributions
  • 10-NOV-2020
    United States of America

    private donors

    $93,700
  • 03-NOV-2020
    Croatia
    $233,918
  • 02-NOV-2020
    United Arab Emirates

    private donors

    $53,770
  • 31-OCT-2020
    China

    private donors

    $67,084
  • Switzerland

    private donors

    $110,086
  • United Arab Emirates

    private donors

    $65,483
  • Spain

    private donors

    $8,812,859
  • 30-OCT-2020
    Czech Republic
    $1,081,315
  • Denmark
    $2,473,610
  • Republic of Korea

    private donors

    $7,702,922
  • Philippines

    private donors

    $172,623
  • Thailand

    private donors

    $480,942
  • France

    private donors

    $158,332
  • Malaysia

    private donors

    $291,864
  • Italy

    private donors

    $1,790,333
  • Canada

    private donors

    $617,154
  • Greece

    private donors

    $118,304
  • Netherlands
    $8,305,881
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

    private donors

    $701,243
  • Brazil

    private donors

    $176,432