Integration

There are close to 10,000 refugees in Ireland with rights similar to Irish nationals. Many are unable to return home and some may never do so. Many will make their permanent home in Ireland. Because of language barriers, unrecognised skills or qualifications and situations involving separated families, integration will not be easy for some refugees. This presents challenges and Ireland's statutory and voluntary agencies have been actively involved in assisting refugees and host communities to adapt.

UNHCR Ireland welcomes the emphasis that the Minister of State for Integration has given to the challenges surrounding the integration of recognised refugees in Ireland. UNHCR has advocated for special support for refugees at the initial phases of their integration and has welcomed the approach of Ireland to facilitate access by refugees to mainstream services. UNHCR carried out research on the needs of refugees in the area of integration in a study called Mapping Integration in April 2009.

In our experience, local authorities and communities have played a key role in the successful first phases of integration of refugees and their children in Ireland, in particular those local initiatives that dealt with language barriers, access to health, education, employment and participation in sports and other local leisure activities.

Although it can have different meanings and definitions, there are common features in the approach to the integration of urban refugees between UNHCR and the European Union and its Member States, like Ireland. UNHCR’s policy in this area is continually developing in tandem with policies being defined and shaped European-wide and internationally.

Essentially, UNHCR sees integration as a two-way process involving efforts by the refugee and the host country to create the conditions that will allow individual refugees to start rebuilding their lives. In these efforts, it is the host country that must take the lead role and communicate its expectations for integration.

UNHCR’s definition of integration flows from the 1951 Refugee Convention and a number of the agency's Executive Committee's conclusions on durable solutions and local integration. Three key elements have been identified within integration, including the fact it involves legal challenges, questions around economic rights and self-reliance, and others concerning social and cultural integration. To ensure success, all three aspects must be supported by the host State.

The recommendations made by UNHCR on integration in the European context relate to ensuring that refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are included in integration programmes; that the special needs of refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are recognised in integration supports; that issues such as lack of documentation, potential trauma and the impact of the asylum process are addressed; that family reunification is facilitated in a timely manner and that there is access to a secure legal status as early as possible, with the potential for obtaining naturalisation.

Ireland is at an integration crossroads. Support for integration has to date been pursued through boosting mainstream services to tackle a more diverse society, as well as making funds available for projects with an integration aim. We will be working with the authorities and civil society in Ireland in every way we can to support efforts, discuss problems and identify solutions for the integration of refugees.

Our hope is that through joint efforts with the authorities, civil society and refugees we can create possibilities for people to reach their potential and contribute to Ireland's future.