Rights of Refugees in the Context of Integration: Legal Standards and Recommendations

Commonly referred to as one of the three durable solutions available to refugees, local integration is based on the assumption that refugees will remain in their country of asylum permanently and find a solution to their plight in that State. It is a legal, economic and socio-cultural process and is related to, but also to be distinguished from, self-reliance, as well as local settlement.

"Local integration in the refugee context is the end product of a multi-faceted and on-going process, of which self-reliance is but one part. Integration requires a preparedness on the part of the refugees to adapt to the host society, without having to forego their own cultural identity. From the host society, it requires communities that are welcoming and responsive
to refugees, and public institutions that are able to meet the needs of a diverse population. As a process leading to a durable solution for refugees in the country of asylum, local integration has three inter-related and quite specific dimensions."

This reference guide focuses on the legal process and framework, which is in many ways a pre-requisite for the realization of the other dimensions of successful integration.