ICC Note:

New rules regarding the UNHCR process has been decried by Christian advocates in Thailand who claim the change in rules disproportionately target Pakistani Christian refugees. Fleeing persecution in their homeland, Pakistani Christians comprise the largest portion of the refugee community in Thailand. Often, Thai authorities view these refugees as illegal immigrants and round then up in mass arrests and detain them in deplorable conditions. Will pressure from the international community help change the UNHCR process for the better or will the situation for Pakistani Christian refugees in Thailand continue to get worse?

9/14/2016 Pakistan (Pakistan Christian Post) – A process change by the UNHCR based in Bangkok that seems to deliberately target Pakistani Christians who make up the largest body of asylum seekers in Thailand, has caused alarm and consternation amongst the advocacy and humanitarian groups providing aid to them.

The policy has been described as ‘disturbing’ by an on the ground campaigner, who has also stated that the change in policy‘ disproportionately affects Pakistani Christians, since they are the largest refugee population here in Bangkok, and are more likely than most refugees to have their application for refugee status rejected.’

The new policy has drastically reduced the time that refugees have to file a notice of appeal. The deadline for filing appeal documents has been reduced from 90 to 30 days.

To make matters worse the UNHCR has also determined that they will no longer communicate any reasons for refusal in their own language. Previously, the asylum seekers’ refusal was read to them in their own language. From now on, asylum seekers will only receive their refusal letter in English.

Together, these new policies place a devastating burden on refugees already dealing with the emotional trauma of a rejection.

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