Integration of Refugees in Latvia Participation and Empowerment
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©Alfrēds Ulmanis | fotal.lv ©Alfrēds Integration of refugees in Latvia Participation and Empowerment Understanding Integration in Latvia through the participation of refugees, integration stakeholders’ experiences, and research October 2014 – January 2015 Integration of refugees in Latvia Participation and Empowerment Understanding Integration in Latvia through the participation of refugees, integration stakeholders’ experiences, and research October 2014 – January 2015 This document is for general distribution. All rights reserved. Reproductions and translations are authorized, except for commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged. © United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees June 2015 Layout and design: BakOS DESIGN Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................7 List of abbreviations .....................................................................................................................8 Terminology ..................................................................................................................................9 1. Introduction and objectives of the study .....................................................................10 2. Rationale for UNHCR’s engagement in refugee integration in Latvia ..................12 2.1 Definition of integration .......................................................................................................13 3. Methodology .......................................................................................................................14 3.1 Desk research .......................................................................................................................14 3.2 Interviews with integration stakeholders ..............................................................................15 3.3 Multi-Functional Team (MFT) ................................................................................................16 3.4 Participatory Assessment (PA) ..............................................................................................16 3.5 Age, Gender and Diversity-sensitive composition of refugee groups .................................18 3.6 Focus areas for the Participatory Assessment ......................................................................18 3.7 Questionnaire to refugees ....................................................................................................19 3.8 Considerations in relation to methodology ..........................................................................20 3.9 Ethical Considerations ..........................................................................................................21 4. Previous studies and publications on the integration of refugees in Latvia .......22 5. Statistical data .....................................................................................................................27 5.1 Number of asylum applications and status recognition .......................................................27 5.2 Countries of origin of beneficiaries of international protection ...........................................27 5.3 Socio-demographic characteristics.......................................................................................29 5.4 Naturalization data ...............................................................................................................29 5.5 Employment data .................................................................................................................29 6. Overview of the legal, policy and institutional framework for the integration of refugees in Latvia ...........................................................................30 6.1 International standards .........................................................................................................30 6.2 European Standards .............................................................................................................33 6.3 Domestic legislation .............................................................................................................34 6.4 Relevant European and national policies and strategies ......................................................36 6.5 Competences of relevant institutions at national and municipal levels ...............................39 6.6 Involvement of non-state actors ...........................................................................................42 6.7 Financing mechanisms .........................................................................................................43 4 INTEGRATION OF REFUGEES IN LATVIA Participation and Empowerment 7. Mapping of the integration of refugees in Latvia – applicable rights, procedures and assistance ...............................................................44 7.1 Financial assistance ..............................................................................................................44 7.2 Access to education and Latvian language courses .............................................................. 47 7.3 Legal status, types of residence permits, freedom of movement, identification and travel documents, and access to naturalization .......................................50 7.3.1 Legal status and residence permits .............................................................................50 7.3.2 Freedom of movement................................................................................................52 7.3.3 Identity and travel documents.....................................................................................52 7.3.4 Access to naturalization ...............................................................................................53 7.4 Family reunification ..............................................................................................................55 7.5 Access to housing ................................................................................................................59 7.6 Access to labour market, including recognition of diplomas and qualifications ..................61 7.7 Social integration, including participation in public/communal life, issues related to discrimination and xenophobia. ...........................................................................................65 7.8 Access to health care ............................................................................................................68 7.9 Access to information and knowledge of rights ...................................................................69 7.10 Access to justice .................................................................................................................70 8. Opportunities and challenges identified based on the desk-research, observations of integration stakeholders and experiences of the refugees ...........72 8.1 Financial assistance and bank accounts ...............................................................................72 8.2 Access to education and Latvian language courses .............................................................. 74 8.3 Legal status, types of residence permits, freedom of movement and access to naturalization ........................................................................................................77 8.4 Family reunification ..............................................................................................................79 8.5 Access to housing ................................................................................................................81 8.6 Access to labour market, including recognition of diplomas and qualifications ..................83 8.7 Social integration, including participation in public/communal life, issues related to discrimination and xenophobia ............................................................................................86 8.8 Access to health care ............................................................................................................87 8.9 Access to information and knowledge of rights ...................................................................88 8.10 Impact of reception conditions and time spent in the asylum procedure on integration .. 90 8.11 Legal, policy, procedural and institutional framework for the facilitation of refugee integration ..........................................................................................................................91 9. Integration models, barriers and facilitators of integration of refugees .............96 10. Concluding remarks regarding refugee integration opportunities and challenges in Latvia .................................................................................................................98 Annex 1: List of interviewed integration stakeholders .............................................................101 Annex 2: Information Note to refugees invited to the Participatory Assessment ....................102 Annex 3: Questionnaire shared with the participants of the Participatory Assessment ...........103 UNHCR Regional Representation for Northern Europe 2015 5 LEGAL PROCESS: refugees are granted a range of entitlements and rights which are broadly commensurate with those enjoyed by citizens. These include freedom of movement, access to education and the labour market, access to social assistance, including