The rights and health of refugees, migrants and stateless must be protected in COVID-19 response: A joint statement by UNHCR, IOM, OHCHR and WHO

In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, we are all vulnerable. The virus has shown that it does not discriminate - but many refugees, those forcibly displaced, the stateless and migrants are at heightened risk.

Three-quarters of the world's refugees and many migrants are hosted in developing regions where health systems are already overwhelmed and under-capacitated. Many live in overcrowded camps, settlements, makeshift shelters or reception centers, where they lack adequate access to health services, clean water and sanitation.

The situation for refugees and migrants held in formal and informal places of detention, in cramped and unsanitary conditions, is particularly worrying. Considering the lethal consequences a COVID-19 outbreak would have, they should be released without delay. Migrant children and their families and those detained without a sufficient legal basis should be immediately released.

This disease can be controlled only if there is an inclusive approach which protects every individual's rights to life and health. Migrants and refugees are disproportionately vulnerable to exclusion, stigma and discrimination, particulary when undocumented. To avert a catastrophe, governments must do all they can to protect the rights and the health of everyone. Protecting the rights and the health of all people will in fact help control the spread of the virus.

It is vital that everyone, including all migrants and refugees, are ensured equal access to health services and are effectively included in national responses to COVID-19, including prevention, testing and treatment. Inclusion will help not only to protect the rights of refugees and migrants, but will also serve to protect public health and stem the global spread of COVID-19. While many nations protect and host refugee and migrant populations, they are often not equipped to respond to crises such as Covid-19. To ensure refugees and migrants have adequate access to national health services, States may need additional financial support. This is where the world's financial institutions can play a leading role in making funds available.

While countries are closing their borders and limiting cross-border movements, there are ways to manage border restrictions in a manner which respects international human rights and refugee protection standards, including the principle of non-refoulement, through quarantine and health checks.

More than ever, as COVID-19 poses a global threat to our collective humanity, our primary focus should be on the preservation of life, regardless of status. This crisis demands a coherent, effective international approach that leaves no-one behind. At this crucial moment we all need to rally around a common objective, fighting this deadly virus. Many refugees, displaced, stateless people and migrants have skills and resources that can also be part of the solution.

We cannot allow fear or intolerance to undermine rights or compromise the effectiveness of responses to the global pandemic. We are all in this together. We can only defeat this virus when each and every one of us is protected.

Source: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25762&LangID=E

Job Opening

The Public Association “Law Centre of Advocates” is looking for a qualified person for a vacant position of Lawyer to support the “Legal assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers in Moldova” Project.

This is a full-time employment. 

The proposal should be submitted by e-mail:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background

The Law Center of Advocates (LCA) is a public association founded in 1997. LCA’s mission lies in the implementation of the projects and programs aimed at promoting Rule of Law, human rights, institution development, commenting on draft legislation; developing continuous training programs; and delivering legal assistance to all refugees, asylum seekers, beneficiaries of humanitarian protection and stateless persons. LCA is a partner to UNHCR since 1998. With UNHCR support, LCA implements a legal assistance project aimed at the rights and well-being of people in need of international protection are in line with international and European standards. 

The overall goals of the Project in 2020 are to provide free-of-charge legal counseling for asylum-seekers and refugees and facilitate access to legal aid whenever possible; conduct border monitoring visits; monitor reception and detention conditions in all facilities under the supervision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; build the capacity of the Government with regard to access to territory and asylum procedures: trainings for border police, judges, public defenders and intelligence staff on refugee law; workshops for police officers and social workers on SGBV response, referral mechanisms to address SGBV and child protection; and informative sessions for guardianship authority’s staff on child protection within RSD procedure.                                    

Key areas of accountability

The Lawyer will:

- visit the Border Crossing Points, Migration Accommodation Centre in Chisinau, and/or other detention facilities to support the national state authorities in ‘screening’ of various categories of migrants, ensuring that asylum rights are upheld, detention of asylum seekers is discouraged, legal and social assistance is provided. 

- ensure the legal assistance at the entry border crossing point all the persons in need of international protection (upon request).

- elaborate a report on monitoring border activities that will include a comprehensive description on the current situation regarding the access to the territory of people in need international protection (based on monitoring visits; confidential interviews with asylum-seekers regarding the data collection on their entry in Moldova and the national and international legal framework).

- provide legal counseling/ assistance to people in need of international protection in public custody (detention).

- provide legal counseling to asylum seekers, refugees, beneficiaries of humanitarian protection, and stateless persons in asylum and stateless procedure.

- consistently apply International and National Refugee Law. 

Institutional arrangements:

-           All communications and documentation related to the assignment are in English and Romanian. 

Management Arrangements: 

-           The lawyer will work under the guidance of LCA project coordinator (and UNHCR focal point for Moldova) and LCA Executive Director.

Qualifications and skills required:

I. Academic Qualifications:

• University degree, preferably in international law or human rights law.

II. Experience and knowledge:

·     Knowledge of Word, PowerPoint and Excel (using for reporting and presentation)

·     Good organizational and time-management abilities.

III. Competencies:

• Good analytical skills and good oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively under stress and in crisis situations.
• Cultural and gender awareness.
• Fluency in Romanian, Russian and English languages.
• Driver license. 

Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status.

The LCA is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.

V. Documents to be included when submitting the application:

Interested candidates must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Personal CV including past experience.

2. A cover letter in English.

VII. How to apply:

The proposal, with the subject line: “Lawyer, UNHCR Project” should be submitted by e-mail to:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  by 31 May 2020 (16:00, local time) or Address for submission: 8, Vlaicu Parcalab str., Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews and tests will be contacted.

For additional information, please contact us by using the email address provided or by phone at 022 240-898, contact person – Natalia Postaru – Project coordinator.