Attachments
UNHCR advocates for a strengthened national asylum system and refugee inclusion in line with the Strategy for UNHCR Engagement in Mixed Movements in the Western Balkans.
UNHCR supports the government to further align its asylum legal framework and implementation with international and EU law.
UNHCR also advocates for improving access to protection and durable solutions. UNHCR’s longstanding work on strengthening access to and quality of legal counselling and assistance remains a high-priority under the EUfunded IPA III Regional Programme.
HIGHLIGHTS
Access to territory and asylum UNHCR continues to advocate for access to territory and asylum, including identification and referral of people with specific needs, which remains a priority in the context of the ongoing mixed movement of refugees and migrants in the Western Balkans. Based on UNHCR and partner protection monitoring data, from 1 January - 31 August 2024, 956 people arriving as part of mixed movements were intercepted by border guards at Albania’s borders. Of this number, 7 per cent were referred to the asylum procedure.
First instance decisions on asylum claims
From 1 January - 31 August 2024, 14 first instance decisions on asylum claims were issued, granting subsidiary protection to nationals of the Syrian Arab Republic and the State of Palestine; no decisions granting refugee status were issued.