UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies - UNHCR eCentre

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during and after their return, negotiating
amnesties, establishing a presence in the country
of origin and monitoring their treatment.
The issue of material assistance requires careful
handling, so that assistance is not interpreted
as a pull factor nor as promotion of repatriation
by UNHCR.
10. Where there is a mass spontaneous
repatriation in conditions where UNHCR does
not consider that, objectively, it is safe for
most refugees to return, and in emergency
conditions, Headquarters advice should be
sought to define UNHCR’s role in such circumstances.
Conditions For a Voluntary
Repatriation
11. In a voluntary repatriation, there must be:
◆ Safeguards as to the voluntary nature of the
return;
◆ Safeguards as to treatment upon return;
◆ Continued asylum for those who do not
repatriate and remain refugees.
Voluntary Nature of the Return
12. Ensuring the voluntary nature of the return
includes ensuring
i. The decision to repatriate is made freely;
ii. The refugees are making an informed decision
based on an accurate country profile;
iii. The decision is made expressly.
13. Voluntariness must be viewed in relation
both to conditions in the country of origin
(calling for an informed decision) and the situation
in the country of asylum (permitting a
free choice).
Voluntariness means there should be no
pressure on the refugee to repatriate.
14. A field office should analyze both factors,
relying for the first, to a large extent, on
direct interviews with all segments of the
refugee community, including women. Consider
refugee attitudes both towards changed
circumstances in their home country and towards
the situation in the country of asylum.
15. Voluntariness also means that the
refugees should not be prevented from returning.
In certain situations, economic and political
interests in the country of asylum may lead to
interest groups trying to prevent repatriation.
16. What ever the nature of the repatriation,
the refugees should be kept fully in-
formed of the situation in the country of origin
in order to guarantee the voluntary nature
of the return. Though refugees are often
already well informed, it may be necessary to
provide additional information on the situation
in their home country.
17. Information should be available about
their planned reception and prospects for
reintegration into national life. They will
want to know if they have the right to repossess
their old houses and land, what the
type and amount of material support they
will initially receive, what they can take with
them, etc.
18. Many of their questions may be best
answered by:
i. Arranging for refugee representatives (including
women) to make a visit to the home
area to see the situation at first hand, if this
is possible (go and see visits);
ii. Assisting with the exchange of letters;
iii. Enabling communication by radio with relatives
in the country of origin;
iv. Displays of information about home conditions;
v. Formal or informal discussions with recent
visitors to the area of return, or through
visits to the refugee camps of returnees or
country of origin local authorities.
19. Whatever the method, care must be
taken to ensure that the refugees are given as
fair (and objective) a picture as possible of
conditions in their home area.
20. The refugees must freely express their
intent to repatriate. They may be unused to
taking individual or family decisions of this
nature, but programmes must be structured
so that their rights in this regard are safeguarded,
for example by using volrep declaration
forms.
21. In instances of organized return, the use
of a voluntary repatriation declaration form is
recommended (see Annex 1). Where there is
any risk of coercion, either from outside or by
factions among the refugees, the form should
be signed in private in front of a UNHCR officer
or other neutral witness. He or she may
need to interview the refugees to ensure that
their decision is truly voluntary. Where circumstances
allow, more informal confirmation of
voluntariness than these may be used and
simple lists of names may suffice.