"Rarely consulted, often overlooked and often not fully involved in the decision-making process The talents, energy and potential of young refugees remain largely untapped. The young refugees want the same things that young people everywhere want: prospects, education, employment and inclusion. They want to get involved and be part of the solution."
(GRYC final report)
A report by Barbara Noske and Sabin Müller
To talk not only about but with young refugees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Womens Refugee Commission (WRC) organized the Global Refugee Youth Consultations (GRYC). The aim of the GRYC was to gather knowledge about the situation of young refugees worldwide and to use it to raise awareness among stakeholders in order to improve the living situation of young refugees. 1183 young refugees from 35 countries took part in the consultations in 21 countries. They took place between October 2015 and May 2016. In 10 countries the consultations were conducted by UNHCR and WRC themselves. In 11 countries, including Switzerland, local NGOs took over the implementation.
Ten key challenges defined
Although the consultations were held in countries as diverse as Switzerland, Chad, Kenya, Morocco and Australia, the GRYC Final Report identified ten key challenges facing young refugees:
- Lack of opportunities to participate and have a say
- Complicated and lengthy residence procedures
- Lack of security and freedom of movement
- Gender discrimination, exploitation and violence
- Particular vulnerability of unaccompanied minors
- Difficult access to education and training
- Highly restricted access to the labour market
- Increased access to health care, including psychosocial care, which is targeted at young people
- Lack of information on the asylum procedure, the rights of refugees and available offers
- Discrimination, racism and "culture shock
The GRYC Final Report was presented on 20.09.2016 in Geneva.
In collaboration with terre des hommes switzerland
The consultation in Switzerland was conducted jointly by the Swiss Foundation of the International Social Service and terre des hommes schweiz. In cooperation with the association KUMA, they conducted a consultation in Basel-Land. 17 young migrants from 6 countries came together for a one-day workshop. They discussed in particular their access to language courses and education, asylum procedures, their housing situation and their future prospects. They drafted proposals on how decision-makers can support them. At the same time, they looked for ways to positively influence their current situation themselves. The results, supplemented by the findings of the MNA charter of Speak Out! were summarised in a national report.
Youth Representative for Switzerland at the UNHCR
In June 2016, the representatives of the national consultations met in Geneva for the global consultation. A suitable representative from Switzerland also took part and presented the results of the Swiss consultation. The representatives presented and discussed the most important findings with stakeholders and representatives of NGOs from around the world at the annual UNHCR NGO Consultation. On the basis of the 21 national consultations and the results of the global consultation, the GRYC Final Report summarises the most important findings.
