The minimum norms laid down in the Council Directive on standards for the qualification as refugees (2004/83/EC) lays down provisions not only on the requisites for granting protection to refugees, but also on the withdrawal of refugee status/ subsidiary protection in a variety of circumstances. A common interpretation and application of the conditions for ending refugee protection is thus an integral part of the European Asylum System. Experienced case workers should be familiar with the common withdrawal regime and be able to apply it to individual cases.
Target group: Case officers, policy makers and managers.
Entry level: Good knowledge in International Refugee Law. 1 year experience as case worker.
Available languages: English.
Content
This module provides knowledge on common standards, principles and guaranties which all member states have to implement to end refugee protection. The following subjects are addressed:
- Revocation, end of protection or refusal to renew status (different options reflect different legal procedures in different Member States; end of protection as a common feature; different reasons to end protection).
- Cessation (the only finalisation of protection regulated by the Geneva Convention; Protection is not needed; Reasons for cessation; Important concepts such as refugees have voluntarily re-availed themselves of the protection of the country of nationality, refugees have voluntarily re-established themselves in the country they fled, refugees can no longer refuse protection of the country of nationality due to the cessation of the circumstances that made them be recognised as refugees).
- Other circumstances for ending protection (e.g. protection should never been granted; behaviour of the refugee does not deserve
- Procedural requisites.
- Rights of the former refugee.
Objectives
At the end of the training participants should be able to:
- Understand the different ways in which a protection regime ends.
- Evaluate whether the specific circumstances of a case require further action in order to formally end protection.
- Prepare, and eventually, write decisions on end of protection.
Methods
Self-studies online comprising case studies, exercises, self-assessment tests and written assignments, combined with a face-to-face session which goes further into the topics in discussions and group exercises.
