The Finnish Immigration Service improves its information gathering about Afganistan
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has started an Afghanistan programme supported by the European Return Fund which will last until the end of 2009. The purpose is to network with various organisations and develop a system for assessing the security situation in Afghanistan by gathering relevant country of origin information. Information is gathered from local and international officials in Afghanistan as well as NGOs. The goal of the programme to ensure a more reliable and up-to-date assessment on the security situation in Afghanistan.
Country information about Afghanistan is a central factor used by Migri when assessing an asylum seeker’s need for international protection and the conditions for a safe return. Furthermore, the network created in the programme will be used to gather information to support the voluntary return of citizens of Afghanistan. The information will be made available to the officials organising the voluntary return.
The programme will also be used in trilateral negotiations between Finland, Afghanistan and the UN Refugee Agency UNCHR, where the aim is to reach an agreement on the return of asylum seekers, the Afghans who have received a negative decision as well as those who have received a residence permit.
Information gathering trip and seminar in autumn
In autumn 2009, representatives of Migri and the Police will visit Afghanistan to gather information. During the trip, the representatives will visit local authorities, Finnish and foreign embassies, NGOs, political parties and international organisations. The most important goal is to create a network of local contacts.
In October, Migri will host a seminar where the information gathered during the trip will be presented to officials as well as Afghans who reside in Finland. The authorities will receive a report about the trip in Finnish and in English. After the seminar, a report for the general public will be published on the Migri website.
Based on the results of the programme, Migri will update its instructions concerning the processing and resolution practices of Afghan asylum applications.
Afghanistan is one of the most significant countries of refugee origin
Afghanistan is one of the main countries of origin for refugees and international migration. From 2004 to 2008, about 850 citizens of Afghanistan applied for an asylum in Finland. Afghans have also immigrated into Finland as quota refugees and as recipients of residence permits granted on the basis of family ties. Approximately 3,300 people with Afghan background currently live in Finland, and many of them are Finnish citizens.
This press release will later be published in the Dari language on the Migri website at www.migri.fi.
Further information for the media: Senior Adviser Pekka Martin, Legal Service and Country Information Unit, tel. +358 (0)71 873 0431
22.6.2009
