Information on the refugee claim procedure and process [CZE16305.E]

According to a BBC report, a new refugee law was adopted by the Czech parliament on 8 December 1993 (BBC Summary 30 Dec. 1993). The same report quotes the UNHCR regional commissionner in Vienna as stating that the new law violates the Geneva Convention and that "the new, faster procedure for screening applications does not provide sufficient guaranties against wrong decisions." (ibid.). For information on the old and new legislation, please refer to the attached documents.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference

BBC Summary of World Reports. 30 December 1993. "New Asylum Law 'Violates Geneva Convention'." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 9 December 1993. "Czech Republic Tightens Political Asylum Laws." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Reports. 30 December 1993. "New Asylum Law 'Violates Geneva Convention'." (NEXIS)

. 7 December 1993. "Paper Says Government to Tighten Asylum Law in 1994." (NEXIS)

CTK National News Wire. 24 January 1994. "Czechs Slam Door on Friends in Need in Former USSR-Paper." (NEXIS)

. 22 December 1993. "Amnesty International Appeals to Havel on Refugee Law." (NEXIS)

. 8 December 1993. "Parliament Tightens Refugee Law." (NEXIS)

. 2 December 1993. "Czech Republic Tightening Migration Policy, 'Respekt' Reports." (NEXIS)

U.S. Committee for Refugees (USSR). 1993. World Refugee Survey 1993. Washington, DC: USSR.

Other Sources Consulted

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Reports. Daily.