ACSG Dialogue Platform
The Asylum Capacity Support Group Dialogue Platform is a virtual space for States and stakeholders involved in strengthening national asylum systems. The Dialogue Platform facilitates relationship-building among States and diverse stakeholders to achieve the ACSG’s objectives of providing additional asylum capacity support and exchanging knowledge and expertise to address the challenges faced by asylum systems globally.
The platform consists of regular global meetings, thematic events and activities focused on four interconnected workstreams that will further these objectives.
Advance development and fulfillment of pledges on asylum capacity
The Global Compact on Refugees relies on pledges and commitments by States and diverse stakeholders to advance its objectives. The Asylum Capacity Support Group assists States and stakeholders in the preparation and implementation of pledges on asylum capacity linked to the Global Refugee Forum.
Mobilize and expand engagement on asylum capacity support
Within existing bilateral or regional arrangements, States and stakeholders have been providing support on asylum capacity. The dialogue platform will seek to mobilize and expand such existing support by giving visibility to the support provided in addition to highlighting good practices in this area.
Enhance technical expertise on asylum capacity
Facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise is a core aspect of the Asylum Capacity Support Group’s work. The dialogue platform enhances this exchange by convening global discussions on topics related to asylum capacity and enabling the sharing of best practices and lessons learned.
Develop UNHCR’s strategy on Asylum Capacity Development
UNHCR welcomes inputs from various stakeholders for its efforts to develop a UNHCR strategy for strengthening national asylum systems. The dialogue platform provides a framework for consultation with States and diverse stakeholders to contribute towards the development and implementation of the strategy.
Asylum Capacity – Highlights from the Global Refugee Forum 2023
Regional organizations, processes and platforms
This page provides a non-exhaustive list of different entities and platforms engaged in strengthening asylum systems at a regional level and beyond.
To feature regional asylum capacity initiatives in this section, write to the ACSG Secretariat at [email protected]
EAC
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprised of seven partner States. Among its many objectives, the EAC together with UNHCR, provides support to partner States in enhancing their asylum capacity and promotes for the harmonized management of refugee affairs within the region.
ECOWAS
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional intergovernmental organization in West Africa made up of fifteen member countries. ECOWAS works towards several objectives, including the harmonization and coordination of national policies, and pursues the protection of human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which includes the right to seek asylum.
EUAA
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) supports EU Member States in applying the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). The Agency provides training, information, and operational and technical assistance to EU Member States, aims to foster convergence of asylum practices across EU Member States and as of 31 December 2023 will be tasked with monitoring the implementation of the CEAS. In a limited capacity and in line with its External Cooperation Strategy, EUAA also supports the alignment of EU candidate and potential candidate countries to the CEAS and assists other selected countries outside the EU in enhancing their asylum and reception systems and hence their protection space.
MIRPS
The MIRPS promotes greater responsibility sharing to address forced displacement in Central America and Mexico. Through regional cooperation, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama are strengthening protection responses and durable solutions, including national asylum procedures. The MIRPS Support Platform was set up to further bolster the efforts of MIRPS countries seeking to mobilize technical, material, and financial support from the widest possible range of stakeholders.
Quito Process
The Quito Process, involving 14 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, serves as a technical consultative process to respond to the protection and assistance needs of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in the region. The process, currently led by Chile (2023), is aimed at facilitating the exchange of information and good practices, serving as an instance of dialogue for the adoption of public policies and protection responses, building coherence in State practice. The Process includes a special thematic axis dedicated to Asylum and the International Protection of Refugees, which is led by Brazil.
SADC
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a regional intergovernmental organization in Southern Africa. SADC together with UNHCR, has spearheaded a Joint Action Plan which seeks to improve asylum systems, reduce backlog, and provide capacity support and comprehensive solutions in Southern Africa region.
Asiloamericas
A digital platform dedicated to strengthening asylum systems in the Americas region. Managed by UNHCR’s Bureau for the Americas, this platform serves as a space for exchanging information, sharing tools, and promoting best practices related to the strengthening of asylum systems in the region. Visit the digital platform.
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