UNHCR Note on Refugee Integration in    Central Europe

    UNHCR Agenda for the Integration of Refugees in Central Europe

National Programme for Integration of Refugees 2008-2010

National Programme for Integration of Refugees 2005-2007

Refugee Integration Programme

Plan of Action on cooperation for facilitating implementation of     the National Refugee Integration Programme between  UNHCR    SAR, UN RC,  MLSP, BBLF , the National Chamber of Crafts       and the Association for Integration of Refugees and Migrants

(Working Document)

PLAN OF ACTION

The UNHCR Representation in Bulgaria, the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers, the UN Resident Coordinator, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, The Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, the National Chamber of Crafts and the Association for  Integration of Refugees and Migrants

I. Preamble

Whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (hereinafter referred to as UNHCR), the State Agency for Refugees at the Council of Ministers (hereinafter referred to as the SAR),  the UN Resident Coordinator (hereinafter referred to as UN RC), the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (hereinafter referred to as MLSP), the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (hereinafter referred to as BBLF),  the National Chamber of Crafts (hereinafter referred to as NCC) and the Association for Integration of Refugees and Migrants (AIRM), collectively known as the “Parties” have agreed to commonly promote the basic human rights and freedom of refugees and asylum seekers in Republic of Bulgaria, and co-operate in the implementation of the National Program for Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria. The Parties recognize that UNHCR has a specific commitment to ensure the protection of refugees and asylum seekers.

II. Legal References:

1. 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 United Nations Protocol relating to the   Status of Refugees;
2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
3. Relevant EU Acquis;
4. Law on Asylum and Refugees (2002)  including the Amendments as published in State Gazette on 8 April 2005 (LAR);
5. Plan of Action signed with the Ministry of Labor & Social Policy and the SAR for Social Protection of Refugees, 7 June 2002.
6. Academic Refugee Studies Initiative in Bulgaria (ARSIB) officially launched by UNHCR on the occasion of the UN Day, 24 Oct. 2002, in the Aula Magna of Sofia University with the governmental, non-governmental as well as the academic communities related to refugees present.

Recognizing that the Parties shall be guided by the principle of co-operation with Central and Local administrations, as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), involved in providing legal and social protection (as defined in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees) to refugees and asylum seekers.

III. The Parties hereby agree as follows:

Article 1. Duration

This Plan of Action shall remain in force from the date of its signature by the Parties up to 31 December, 2006.

Article 2.  Terms of Reference, Obligations of the Parties

The Parties shall co-operate and co-ordinate with the state bodies and NGOs to accomplish a national policy for the protection and assistance of refugees and asylum seekers in general and the vulnerable groups (young people, refugee women, single parents, disabled persons, separated children, torture victims) in particular, in the context of the implementation of the National Program for Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria.

Article 3. Co-operation

3.1 The Parties shall co-operate in promotion and the implementation of a National Programme for Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria.

3.2 The Parties shall co-operate in developing a pro-active media policy for raising public awareness of refugees and asylum seekers.

Article 4. Activities

4.1.  The Parties shall continue to build a network comprising of representatives of the relevant government institutions and public administration, as well as representatives of  academic institutions, NGOs such as the Bulgarian Red Cross, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Caritas, the  UN Association for Bulgaria, as well as the Council of Refugee Women, the Association of the Ethiopian Community and  the Centre for European Refugee, Migrant and Ethnic Studies, working for the best interest of asylum seekers and refugees;

4.2. Co-operation between the Parties and NGOs, in order to strengthen exchange of information and on tailoring and implementing of activities for social integration and vocational training, to the benefit of strengthening protection of refugees;

4.3. Parties shall work together in facilitating internship, and paid employment of refugees within the framework of relevant existing legislations, policies and program including The National Programme for Integration of Refugees of Bulgaria

4.4 UNHCR shall contribute further assistance to the Parties. This shall include:

4.4.1. Delivering and co-ordinating training on topics determined in advance, in accordance with the training activities on refugee matters.

4.4.2. Provide training materials, updated legal instruments, relevant UNHCR’s guidelines, research works, manuals and visual instruction appliances in relation to the training. Render – according to available resources, within the limits of UNHCR’s overall budget in Bulgaria - logistical, financial, methodological and technical assistance.

4.4.3. Elaborating scientific studies, papers and manuals on educational and social refugee issues and publishing them in the scientific periodicals and collections in consultation with the parties of this PLAN OF ACTION.

4.5. The Parties shall contribute further assistance to this PLAN OF ACTION by supporting and co-coordinating with UNHCR’s the main activities included within this PLAN OF ACTION.

Article 5.  Liabilities

5.1 UNHCR shall not be liable to indemnify any third party in respect of any claim, debt, damage or demand arising out of the implementation of this PLAN OF ACTION;

5.2 UNHCR does not accept liability for compensation for the death, disability or the effects of other hazards, which may be suffered by employees of the other Parties or any sub-contractor or thirds parties as a result of their employment in connection with the implementation of this PLAN OF ACTION.

Article 6.  Privileges and immunities

6.1. Nothing in or relating to this PLAN OF ACTION shall be deemed a waiver, express or implied, of any privileges and immunities which UNHCR enjoys as an integral part of the United Nations under the applicable international legal instruments.

Article 7. Other conditions

7.1.. The Parties hereby undertake to always exchange information relating to the subject matter of  this PLAN OF ACTION.

7.2.The parties undertake to seek also assistance from third parties in order to achieve the objectives of this Plan of Action.

Article 8. Final Provisions

8.1. This Plan of Action is officially agreed upon by the undersigned on 23 June 2005, in the relevant number of original copies, each of them in English and in Bulgarian, both texts  being equally authentic.

8.2. Any revision or modification to any of the terms of this PLAN OF ACTION shall be made with the written consent of the  Parties.

8.3. The duration of this Plan of Action is not limited in time.

For:

airm@airm-bg.org