PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) Tuesday expressed its “deep disappointment” on the closure of the United Nations Refugee Company (UNHCR) workplace right here from August 31 this 12 months.
“The UNHCR has been a pillar of energy and compassion in its tireless advocacy for the rights and dignity of refugees. Their affect in Trinidad and Tobago and throughout the area has been nothing in need of transformative,” the CCHR mentioned in an announcement.
“For these of us at CCHR who’ve had the privilege of partnering with UNCHR, this journey has been each humbling and galvanizing,” it mentioned.
The UNCHR mentioned the closure was attributable to funding constraints and that operations will probably be managed remotely from the UNHCR’s Multi-Nation Workplace in Panama.
“In lots of nations, funding has been considerably lowered. Which means that whereas wants are nonetheless nice, there’s much less cash obtainable to assist everybody. This has triggered monetary uncertainty and international, regional, and native finances restrictions,” the UNHCR mentioned.
The Donald Trump administration in america authorities has minimize US overseas considerably impacting worldwide organizations, resulting in job losses, program closures, and lowered companies.
The brand new US coverage has raised widespread issues concerning the potential of UN companies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to successfully ship help, significantly in areas equivalent to international well being and humanitarian response.
The CCHR mentioned it was calling on the Trinidad and Tobago authorities and all stakeholders to affix it “in preserving the progress achieved beneath UNCHR management,” including that their departure marks “the tip of a big chapter however not the tip of the mission.”
The CCHR mentioned it’s totally dedicated to making sure the continuation of important companies for refugees and asylum seekers and that it has written to the related authorities authorities “to specific each our readiness and a robust want to proceed the important work the UNCHR started.
“The humanitarian mandate should endure and develop,” the CCHR mentioned.
In asserting its closure final week, the UNCHR said that it’s conscious that “in these unsure occasions, there’s the potential for rumors and the spreading of false info.” The UNCHR will proceed to advocate for a nationwide asylum system and entry to rights for refugees in partnership with its counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago.
“UNHCR, as a world group by its regional and worldwide workplaces, will even proceed this necessary work. Because of the closure of the nationwide workplace, the best way these efforts will proceed will change. Nevertheless, the UNHCR’s Multi-Nation Workplace in Panama will proceed to watch the safety surroundings to make sure that the rights of refugees are revered. ”
The UNCHR warned that some people could try to use the present scenario by making false guarantees to supply companies, together with the issuance of documentation in alternate for cash or favors.
“Please be cautious of rumors and unverified info and verify UNHCR’s Assist webpage (assist.unhcr.org/trinidadandtobago) for official updates and steering,” it mentioned, including that “private information you’ve shared stays confidential.”
