Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697748570785.pdf (India)
Minutes of the In-House Meeting on Protection of Rights of Refugees held on 13th January, 2021 at 11:00 am A meeting on protection of rights of refugees in India was held on 13th January, 2021 at 11:00 am in Room No.

508 under the chairmanship of Shri Bimbadhar Pradhan, Secretary General, NHRC, which was attended by all Senior Level Officers of the Commission.

A representative from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Shri Kiri Atri, also attended the meeting.
The list of participants is attached at Annexure- I Discussions were focused on the following: 1. International Legal framework for protection of rights of refugees i.e.

International Human Rights Laws including ‘Bill of Rights’ and other UN Conventions/Treaties, International Refugee Laws which include 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol, human rights of refugees & asylum seekers covered under UDHR, etc.

2.
2.

Facts/figures in respect of forcibly displaced people worldwide - 79.5 million by the end of 2019 which include 26 million refugees, 45.7 million IDPs, 4.2 million asylum seekers and 3.6 million other displaced persons.

40% of the worldwide displaced people are children.

3.
3.

Refugee protection in India - Government of India has not yet signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and there is no domestic refugee legislation, however, it has shown interest in participating in the development of International Refugee Protection Framework.

Administrative instructions have been issued by GOI from time to time which provides a framework for protection of rights of refugees in India.

Further the human rights treaties signed by GOI also provide protection to the refuges.

4.
4.

The data in respect of refugees and asylum seekers in India (as on 31 Dec. 2020) Tibet** Sri Lanka** Myanmar* Afghanistan* Others* 21,370 15,132 3,508 1,08,005 93,182 Source: Annual report of MHA (**) and UNHCR (*) 5.
Way forward - Proper framework and clear policy are required to protect the basic human rights of the refugees like; education, healthcare, safe drinking water, shelter and issues such as financial or case based assistance, opening of bank accounts, due to unavailability of proper identity card etc., in this regard Commission may open a dialogue with the Government.
Action to be taken: It was directed by the chair (Shri Bimbadhar Pradhan) that the Research Division in coordination with the Law Division may work on this subject in consultation with Shri Kiri Atri, External Relations officer, UNHCR, and submit a brief report by 19th January 2021 (Tuesday) containing the steps which may be taken by NHRC for protection of basic human rights of the refugees.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Annexure- I National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) 1.
Shri Bimbadhar Pradhan, Secretary General - Chair 2.

Shri Surjit Dey, Registrar, (Law) 3.

Shri R.K. Khandelwal, JS (A&R) 4.

Smt.

Anita Sinha, JS (P&T) 5.

Smt.

Manzil Saini, DIG (I) 6.

Dr. M.D.S.

Tyagi, JD(R) 7.

Shri A.K.

Tiwari, SO(R) 8.

Mr. Masroof Anwer, JRC 9.

Ms. Smriti Pandey, JRC 10.

Mr. Maninder Singh, JRC 11.

Ms. Prashansa Pandey, JRC United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 1.

Shri.

Kiri Atri, Assistant External Relations Officer