The humanitarian situation of refugees in the countries neighbouring Syria

Doc. 14569: compendium of written amendments | Doc. 14569 | 25/06/2018 | Final version

Compendium index

Amendment 1 Amendment 2 Amendment 3 Amendment 4 Amendment 5 Amendment 6 Amendment 7 Amendment 8 Amendment 9

Caption: AdoptedRejectedWithdrawnNo electronic votes

ADraft Resolution

1The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its earlier work on the humanitarian situation of refugees in Syria, its neighbouring countries and the whole region, and in particular to Resolution 2107 (2016) on a stronger European response to the Syrian refugee crisis and Resolution 1971 (2014) “Syrian refugees: how to organise and support international assistance?”.

2Furthermore, it refers to its earlier work concerning the human rights of refugees and general principles underlying the management of mass population displacement that is fully relevant and applicable to the situation in Syria’s neighbouring countries and surrounding region, and in particular: Resolution 2164 (2017) on possible ways to improve the funding of emergency refugee situations; Resolution 2109 (2016) on the situation of refugees and migrants under the EU–Turkey Agreement of 18 March 2016; Resolution 2089 (2016) on organised crime and migrants; Resolution 2099 (2016) on the need to eradicate statelessness of children; and Resolution 2136 (2016) on harmonising the protection of unaccompanied minors in Europe.

3The region is currently both the source and recipient of the largest numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons globally, and Syria’s neighbours are among the countries with both the highest refugee-to-population ratio and absolute numbers of refugees. As at 1 June 2018, there were over 3.6 million registered refugees in Turkey, 2.7 million in Jordan, 1.8 million in Lebanon and 267 000 in Iraq.

4The entire region had been subject to mass forced population movements for many years as a result of armed conflicts including the civil war in Lebanon, the Gulf wars and the war in Yemen. These movements took place in the context of the long-term displacement of third and fourth generation Palestinian refugees. While Syria and Yemen are currently at the core of the large-scale displacements, there is significant protracted displacement from other countries, particularly from Iraq.

5The outbreak of military hostilities in Syria in 2011 and the ensuing influx of refugees overstretched reception capacities and put enormous strain on the economies, social services and populations of the neighbouring countries. Over 5.3 million Syrian refugees out of the 11 million in total who had fled the country are currently registered in one of the neighbouring countries.

6Confronted with a humanitarian tragedy of this scale, the neighbouring countries have not always been able, despite international assistance, to provide refugees with adequate material reception conditions. To their credit, it should be underlined that they left their borders open for Syrian refugees during the peak arrivals. Regrettably, at present the borders remain closed except for critical medical cases and there have been reported returns of refugees on an involuntary basis.

7The legal framework governing refugee issues in Syria’s neighbouring countries is far from satisfactory. In particular, all of these countries should ratify as a priority the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees without exemption clauses and its 1967 Protocol, and introduce, if they have not already done so, adequate legislation regulating services offered to refugees, including access to health care, education and work.

• Amendment 3

25 June 2018

Tabled by Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Mr Rónán MULLEN, Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Mr Pavlo UNGURYAN, Mr Frank HEINRICH

In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 7, insert the following words: "governed by the principle of non-discrimination."

8According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), between 75% and 90% of Syrian refugees in the region live below the poverty line. More than 2.5 million require continuous food assistance. 43% of Syrian refugee children were out of school as of June 2017. These figures should, however, be considered in the context of the economic situation of the countries concerned as well as of the living conditions of the local population.

9With a view to sustaining the efforts of the neighbouring countries, which are continuously confronted with a refugee influx, greater financial support from the international community is indispensable. The comprehensive approach adopted by the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan under the aegis of the United Nations that addresses the needs of the host communities in Syria’s neighbouring countries, including refugees and the local population, is to be highly commended as responding to the challenges faced by the region.

10There is a clear need to enhance the use of and take advantage of new technologies, including “EyePay” and a blockchain-based form of digital identity, in order to make significant financial savings and make the whole assistance process more transparent and accountable.

11While improvement of the reception capacities of the countries across the region remains the main objective, the creation of legal pathways for resettlement, including humanitarian visas, academic scholarships, private sponsorship and labour mobility schemes, should become another priority. Furthermore, external processing of asylum applications constitutes an opportunity to improve the situation and should be seriously considered.

• Amendment 1

25 June 2018

Tabled by Mr Jiři KOBZA, Mr Jaroslav KYTÝR, Mr Miroslav NENUTIL, Mr Pavel STANĚK, Mr Luděk JENIŠTA, Mr František KOPŘIVA, Mr Jiři VALENTA

Votes: 15 in favor 75 against 10 abstentions

In the draft resolution, paragraph 11, delete the second sentence.

12The Assembly therefore calls on the governments of Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon to:

12.1enhance their legal framework for governing refugee issues, in particular, to ratify the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and introduce specific legislation with regard to asylum procedures;

• Amendment 4

25 June 2018

Tabled by Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Mr Rónán MULLEN, Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Mr Pavlo UNGURYAN, Mr Frank HEINRICH

Votes: 94 in favor 1 against 7 abstentions

In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 12.1, insert the following words: "governed by the principle of non-discrimination and guaranteeing freedom of thought, conscience and religion and freedom of expression."

12.2adopt and implement comprehensive domestic legislation regulating benefits offered to refugees and asylum seekers, in particular with regard to health care, education and employment;

12.3ensure a legal basis for the priority treatment of unaccompanied refugee minors and other vulnerable groups of refugees;

• Amendment 5

25 June 2018

Tabled by Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Mr Rónán MULLEN, Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Mr Pavlo UNGURYAN, Mr Frank HEINRICH

Votes: 104 in favor 1 against 4 abstentions

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 12.3, insert the following paragraph:

"further, to adopt and implement comprehensive policies including but not limited to ease of access and staff training, in order to ensure appropriate assistance is consistently provided to all unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups of refugees."

12.4follow UNHCR recommendations with regard to stateless people;

12.5maintain an open-door policy for refugees and create appropriate reception centres at border areas with Syria to provide temporary legal protection for refugees;

12.6ensure that all returns are conducted on a voluntary basis with due respect for security and dignity;

12.7enhance mutual co-operation with the UNHCR with a view to the better management of refugee flows and the facilitation of distribution of appropriate services to refugees and asylum seekers.

13The Assembly calls on the Government of Turkey to:

13.1abolish the geographical limitations restricting the scope of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees;

• Amendment 6

25 June 2018

Tabled by Mr Akif Çağatay KILIÇ, Mr Samad SEYIDOV, Ms Ganira PASHAYEVA, Mr Mustafa YENEROĞLU, Mr Yasin AKTAY, Mr Yıldırım Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ

In the draft resolution, delete paragraph 13.1.

Explanatory note

To make a limitation to the Convention is a natural right of a state, deriving from the Convention itself. Furthermore, the international protection offered by Turkey meets the standards set out by the Convention.

13.2return to an open-door policy for refugees and refrain from carrying out forced returns;

• Amendment 7

25 June 2018

Tabled by Mr Akif Çağatay KILIÇ, Mr Samad SEYIDOV, Ms Ganira PASHAYEVA, Mr Mustafa YENEROĞLU, Mr Yasin AKTAY, Mr Yıldırım Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ

In the draft resolution, paragraph 13.2, replace the words "return to" with the following words: "continue pursuing"

Explanatory note

Turkey has been pursuing open-door policy since the onset of the Syrian crisis. There are no cases of forced returns. The fact that there are already 3 589 384 Syrians in Turkey clearly demonstrates that Turkey pursues an open-door policy.

13.3ensure that the implementation of the EU–Turkey statement of March 2016 is carried out with full respect for the human rights of irregular migrants and refugees;

• Amendment 8

25 June 2018

Tabled by Mr Akif Çağatay KILIÇ, Mr Samad SEYIDOV, Ms Ganira PASHAYEVA, Mr Mustafa YENEROĞLU, Mr Yasin AKTAY, Mr Yıldırım Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ

In the draft resolution, paragraph 13.3, replace the word "is" with the following words: "continues to be".

Explanatory note

The EU-Turkey deal is already being conducted in full respect of the human rights of every person needing international protection. Syrians from the Aegean islands account only for 0.07 percent of the Syrian population in Turkey. The human rights of Syrians received because of this deal or Syrians arriving through other routes are protected with the upmost respect.

13.4meet the specific needs of unaccompanied minors and all vulnerable groups of refugees.

• Amendment 9

25 June 2018

Tabled by Mr Akif Çağatay KILIÇ, Mr Samad SEYIDOV, Ms Ganira PASHAYEVA, Mr Mustafa YENEROĞLU, Mr Yasin AKTAY, Mr Yıldırım Tuğrul TÜRKEŞ

In the draft resolution, at the beginning of paragraph 13.4, insert the words "continue to".

Explanatory note

Turkey currently provides free access to health and education services for all Syrians. All vulnerable groups of refugees, including but not limited to unaccompanied minors, are taken into account during the provision of public services.

14Furthermore, the Assembly calls on Council of Europe member States to:

14.1step up financial contributions to the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan drawn up under the auspices of the United Nations, in order to satisfy funding requirements;

14.2step up responsibility sharing by substantially increasing the resettlement and other forms of legal admission of refugees from the region to their countries;

• Amendment 2

25 June 2018

Tabled by Mr Jiři KOBZA, Mr Jaroslav KYTÝR, Mr Miroslav NENUTIL, Mr Pavel STANĚK, Mr Luděk JENIŠTA, Mr František KOPŘIVA, Mr Jiři VALENTA

Votes: 16 in favor 89 against 6 abstentions

In the draft resolution, paragraph 14.2, replace the words "step up responsibility sharing by substantially" with the following word: "consider"

14.3use all available diplomatic means to encourage fairer responsibility sharing with non-European Union countries, in particular those involved in the Middle East process such as the United States, the Russian Federation and the Gulf States.

15The Assembly is of the opinion that all integration and social inclusion initiatives targeting refugees in the region should be supported and encouraged. The Intercultural cities programme sponsored by the Council of Europe is a good example to follow.

16Furthermore, the Council of Europe Development Bank could be instrumental in funding integration projects for refugees in the region, as already recommended by the Assembly in its Resolution 1971 (2014).

17The Assembly calls on its member States to reply positively to the pledge of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for increased contributions to its budget in order to compensate for the significant funding cuts on the part of the United States.

18The Assembly points out that enhancing the capacity of Syria’s neighbouring countries to cope with the consequences of forced displacements in the region would create more favourable conditions for refugees to return to their countries once the situation allows it. It would furthermore reduce the risk of their undertaking perilous journeys across the Mediterranean and falling prey to smugglers and traffickers and endangering their lives.