The Defensora del Pueblo, Soledad Becerril, visited the Geneva headquarters of the UNHCR and met with the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Volker Türk, who requested the support of the Defensor for the high level meeting on refugees organized by this institution.
The meeting, scheduled for March 30th, concerns sharing responsibilities and establishing procedures for admission of Syrian Refugees. It is expected that participating States will commit to facilitating legal venues for refugee admission, which will allow individuals who have found it necessary to flee their own country to avoid the dangerous journeys through the hands of organized criminal networks.
The UNHCR representative has asked the Defensor del Pueblo to mediate so that the Government of Spain commits to establishing scholarship programs for Syrian students, increasing the flexibility of family reunification and accelerating the resettlement process—all of this paired with effective integration programs.
The Defensor del Pueblo has committed to supporting the UNHCR in its work before the Government of Spain and also before her colleagues throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, so that Ombudsman everywhere represent a strong voice for the protection of the rights of these vulnerable people.
During the meeting, Türk emphasized the importance of integration and family reunification programs for those who arrive in Europe seeking international protection. He stressed that integration of these refugees can contribute to the health of a country’s economy, and highlighted the positive predisposition of Spanish society to receiving these people, which he considers an important factor.
The Defensora and the Assistant High Commisioner also addressed the situation in Melilla. The UNHCR appreciated the support and recommendations of the Defensor del Pueblo in this matter and recognized that, over the last year, the situation in terms of asylum has improved.
