COUNTRY UPDATE:
1. Figures and facts about asylum
Principle countries of origin of asylum seekers year 2005
Place Country Number of asylum applicants 1 Serbia and Montenegro 4.403 2 Russian Federation 4.335 3 India 1.530 4 Moldova 1.210 5 Turkey 1.064 6 Georgia 954 7 Afghanistan 923 8 Nigeria 880 9 Mongolia 640 10 Bangladesh 548
Evolution of the number of asylum applications
2004 2005 Difference +/- First applications 24.634 22.461 -1.993 Rejections 5.209 5.624 +415 Removals n.a. 5.396 Recognitions 5.208 4.528 -680 Voluntary/mandatory returns n.a. 3.321 Number of Dublin cases sending 225 436 +211 out of the country Number of Dublin cases sending n.a. n.a. into the county
Remarks:
Non refoulement Granted Rejected 2004 2.641 3.625 2005 772 4.052 Difference -1.869 +427
In 2005 about 8.630 proceedings were closed due to the absence of the asylum applicant or due to the application withdrawal or similar. This would mean, that out of total applications 13.831 asylum cases were dealt with. With regard to this the recognition quota would be 32,74 % (only rough numbers).
In 2004 about 15.219 proceedings were closed. On the basis that 9.415 applications were proceeded, the recognition quota would be 55,32 %.
D:\Docs\2018-05-11\00aa0974f8a38fec72ef1398252b0d6d.doc Page 1 2. Political and legal developments 2005 stood in the light of the discussions on the new codification process of several laws addressing refugees and aliens (pipeline and ratification phase). In June 2005 the Parliament finally adopted the new “Aliens law package” comprising the new codification of the Asylum Law, the separation of the Aliens law and its new codification into Aliens Police Law and Residence Law, the amendment of the Federal Basic Welfare Law on Aliens, the amendment of the Law on Employment of Foreigners, the amendment of the Law on the Independent Asylum Review Board as effective by January 1, 2006. In addition to it, the Security Police law was amended, granting police more effective power and the Citizienship Law amendment was also undertaken.
3. Asylum seekers / migrants issues raised in your country 2005 discussions were overshadowed by the new legislative measures and the enacting procedure. Most of the criticism expressed by human rights activists, NGO and legal experts focused on the Aliens Police Law regulation mainly with regard to forcible feeding of aliens to be expelled and are striking hunger, to the prolonged durability of stay under custody pending expulsion, especially as asylum seekers are concerned; further criticism was expressed on the Asylum Law as regards mainly the movement restrictions of asylum seekers during the admission procedure, the possibility that asylum seekers (preferably with EURODAC hit) could be easily taken under custody pending removal to the country in charge (Dublin II cases!), the withdrawal of the clause, that traumatised people are safe from expulsion and now could be restituted even traumatised as long as the physical removal does not cause any worse to the diagnosed health condition; also criticised was the Residence Law and its restricted policy about family reunion as third country nationals are concerned, as well as the Citizienship Law with regard to the longer defined waiting periods enabling to gain citizienship and new legal entries about the reasons of rejection (mainly corresponding to the strict regulations of the Aliens Police Law in what case a ban on residence has to be pronounced f.e. conviction).
D:\Docs\2018-05-11\00aa0974f8a38fec72ef1398252b0d6d.doc Page 2 4. Red Cross activities in the field of migration (asylum, migration, irregular migration)
Target Group Title of Activity Short Description of Activity Provider of activity within RC (National Headquarter, regional / local Branch, etc.) Asylum- Advisory centre for Focuses on counselling on social ARC Vienna branch Seekers basic welfare support aspects like benefits, matters housing, training, jobs and further integration measures as on socio- medical care and perspectives for legal stay Care and Reception Provides housing and care; 2 such ARC Vienna branch Centres centres with different sized capacity and ARC Upper Austria (one is more single men oriented branch and the other one more family oriented) Asylum lawyers Cofounder (together with Caritas ARC HQ network and UNHCR) of this legal and administrative assistance structure. Comprises information on the asylum claim and assistance at the appeal level, especially as authorized legal representative before the Independent Asylum Review Board. ACCORD Austrian Centre for Country of ARC HQ Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation – Information platform and member of the ecoi.net network; Government’s official “Country documentation service” focusing on reliable information about the Country of Origin in all aspects regarding the asylum procedure but also resettlement European Open ERF funded project under ARC HQ Forum on reception realisation of the ARC and the IRC and health for EU Office – international conference asylum seekers Medical aid to Providing people without social ARC HQ people without security with necessary medical social security drugs Tracing services Tracing, restoring family links, family ARC HQ and other messages, work in link with the branches in ICRC for issuance of documents, cooperation with HQ health and welfare reports etc. Financial aid As a service of the Emergency aid, ARC HQ financial support is given after verifying the emergency situation either in financial means, in kind, or both. Refugees Study support for Supporting school children at Austrian Youth Red children migrants learning; support of pre-school Cross Tyrol and children envisaged Carinthia branch Advisory centre for See above – asylum seekers ARC Vienna branch basic welfare matters
D:\Docs\2018-05-11\00aa0974f8a38fec72ef1398252b0d6d.doc Page 3 Medical aid to Providing people without social ARC HQ people without security with necessary medical social security drugs Housing service Providing housing for recognized ARC HQ refugees in rented appartements Tracing services Tracing, restoring family links, family ARC HQ and other messages, work in link with the branches in ICRC for issuance of documents, cooperation with HQ health and welfare reports etc. Financial aid See above – asylum seekers ARC HQ Migrants German language Responding to the Austrian ARC HQ and ARC classes respective laws ARC is offering Vienna branch language courses which are mandatory for labour migrants legal stay (Certification of A2 language level) Medical aid to See above people without social security Fiancial aid See above Diversity @ care ESF-EQUAL Development ARC Vienna branch partnership with 4 other NGO on health vocational training
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