UNHCR - The U.N. Refugee Agency

UNHCR | Washington Regional Office

 

Caribbean Network

Throughout the Caribbean region, UNHCR Washington relies upon the active support of our network of implementing partners and UNHCR Honorary Liaisons who assist UNHCR with diverse activities. UNHCR implements comprehensive refugee protection and assistance activities through NGO implementing partners in Belize, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago. In the other Caribbean states, UNHCR works through local Honorary Liaisons, who lend their support to UNHCR on a pro bono basis, including engaging in activities such as:

• Alerting UNHCR to new arrivals of asylum seekers and refugees.
• Providing counseling and advice to asylum seekers and refugees about their rights and obligations, and assisting them to apply for refugee status with UNHCR or before the competent Government authorities.
• Visiting detention centers to counsel migrants, and to identify any asylum seekers or refugees who may be amongst detained migrant populations.
• Helping refugee children enroll locally in school, and alerting UNHCR to the special needs of women refugees and refugee families.
• Delivering material assistance, facilitating access to public services, and assisting refugees to obtain legal documentation.
• Helping refugees find permanent solutions to their plight, by assisting UNHCR to implement voluntary repatriation, local integration in host countries, and third-country resettlement.

 

In Caribbean states that do not have national asylum procedures, the Honorary Liaison is often the first point of contact for asylum seekers and refugees. Our Liaisons include regional directors of the Red Cross, legal aid clinic staff, practicing attorneys, and heads of faith-based organizations.