UNHCR welcomes Nordic NGO refugee campaign

25.9.2007

Stockholm - Twenty non-governmental organisations are today launching the region wide campaign "Keep Them Safe", which aims to strengthen the protection of persons fleeing generalized violence and gross human rights abuses.

"The Nordic countries are in many ways examples to the world of good humanitarian practice and to UNHCR, they are very important and much appreciated partners in the refugee cause," says Hans ten Feld, Representative for UNHCR in the Baltic and Nordic countries. "As it stands, however, the international protection regime does not always ensure people fleeing situations of generalised violence the international protection they need. Not even in the Nordics, despite recent positive developments in some of the countries."

Protection gaps in relation to persons fleeing generalised violence and gross human rights abuses exist both in law and its interpretation. For instance, people fleeing widespread conflict in Iraq and Somalia cannot be sure to find protection as refugees in the Nordic countries. The consequence is according to Hans ten Feld that such people risk becoming victims of failed protection twice over - first in their country of origin and next in the country in which they seek asylum.

"UNHCR supports and welcomes this campaign as it aims to stimulate discussion on and identify solutions to a critical gap in international protection. A first step in closing this gap would be a full and consistent adherence to UNHCR's protection recommendations," says Hans ten Feld.

The NGOs joining forces in this campaign are Swedish Red Cross, FARR, Swedish Amnesty International, Caritas Sweden, Swedish Advice Center, Swedish Church Council, Danish Refugee Council, Danish Red Cross, The Danish Institute for Human Rights, Amnesty International Denmark, The Danish UN association, Norwegian Organisation for Asylum Seekers (NOAS), Norwegian Refugee Council, Finnish Refugee Council, Finnish Refugee Advice Center, Finnish Red Cross, Amnesty International Finland, The Icelandic Human Rights Centre, The Icelandic Red Cross, Amnesty International Iceland.

For information about the campaign, visit www.keepthemsafe.org

For more information, please contact spokesperson Hanne Mathisen, UNHCR Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic Countries, in Stockholm on tel. +46 8 457 48 86 or e-mail mathisen@unhcr.org

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