Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
1. Management and Identification of Refugees in Chad
According to its website, Chad’s National Commission for the Reception and Reintegration of Refugees and Returnees (Commission nationale d’accueil de réinsertion des réfugiés et des rapatriés, CNARR), under the Ministry of Territorial Administration (Ministère de l’Administration du territoire), deals with the issue of refugees in the country (Chad n.d.). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the CNARR’s Senior Administrator described the CNARR as a [translation] “government-created organization” under the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralized Territorial Collectivities (Ministère de l’Administration du territoire et des collectivités territoriales décentralisées) and stated that it is “the only organization in charge” of managing and protecting refugees and asylum-seekers in Chad (Chad 24 Feb. 2020). The same source further stated that [translation] “the CNARR administers and manages all refugee camps and sites in Chad” and that it “continues to be the organization in charge of determining the status of refugees in urban areas” and that to “this end, it is supported by the UNHCR representative's office in Chad” (Chad 24 Feb. 2020). A joint report by ten Chadian civil society organizations for the defence of human rights submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2014 states that the CNARR is in charge of [translation] “managing and coordinating refugees and returnees” in Chad (ATPDH, et al. 8 Feb. 2014, 19).
A 2009 world report on refugees by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) states that the CNARR and UNHCR were jointly issuing documents to refugees in Chad (USCRI 2009). According to UNHCR’s 2015 refugee response plan for Central Africa, UNHCR works with the Chadian authorities and other partners to ensure that refugees receive identity documents (UN 2015, 7).
2. Refugee Attestations
The CNARR’s Senior Administrator stated that refugee attestations are [translation] “issued and jointly signed by the CNARR’s Permanent Secretary and the UNHCR’s Deputy Representative for Protection” (Chad 24 Feb. 2020). According to the same source, a refugee attestation is physical proof of the biometric registration of a refugee family in Chad in the CNARR and UNHCR database, whether in refugee camps or urban areas (Chad 24 Feb. 2020). Other sources similarly indicate that refugee attestations are “family-based” (UN 31 May 2018, 1; USCRI 2009).
A sample refugee attestation dated September 2019, provided to the Research Directorate by the CNARR, is attached to this Response (Attachment 1). In a follow-up correspondence with the Research Directorate, the CNARR's Senior Administrator stated that 2015 attestations had the same appearance as those from 2019 (Chad 26 Feb. 2020).
In another follow-up correspondence with the Research Directorate, the same source indicated that a refugee attestation [translation] “is the key document for the recognition of refugee status by the authority in charge of adjudicating refugee protection claims or determining prima facie refugee status. They also prove that the holder is registered in the database of refugees in Chad” (Chad 28 Feb. 2020).
3. Refugee Identity Card
According to the CNARR’s Senior Administrator, refugee identity cards are issued to refugees by the CNARR and signed by its permanent secretary (Chad 24 Feb. 2020). Each refugee registered in the CNARR and UNHCR database is issued a card, which serves as an identity document for [translation] “adult” refugees and as a residence permit for refugees living in Chad (Chad 24 Feb. 2020). UNHCR indicates that refugee identity cards are issued to persons aged 18 or older (UN 31 May 2018, 1) or to “adult[s]” (UN 2015, 22). A UNHCR report states that refugee identity cards and family attestations were issued in 2018 in the Dar es Salam camp (UN 31 May 2018, 1). However, the 2009 USCRI report indicated that only those in urban areas received identity cards, whereas those in refugee camps received only family-based attestations of refugee status (USCRI 2009). Neither corroborating information nor any information indicating when the issuance policy might have changed could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
A sample refugee identification card, provided to the Research Directorate by the CNARR, is attached to this Response (Attachment 2). In his second correspondence with the Research Directorate, the CNARR's Senior Administrator stated that 2015 refugee identification cards had the same appearance as the sample (Chad 26 Feb. 2020).
In his third correspondence with the Research Directorate, the same source further stated that refugee identity cards serve as identity documents for [translation] “adult or non-dependent” refugees, who can use them “in any circumstance” as proof of their refugee status “for greater protection in Chad” (Chad 28 Feb. 2020). He also indicated that they make it easier to open a bank account and promote socio-economic inclusion (Chad 28 Feb. 2020).
However, a 2017 joint note by the Republic of Chad and UNHCR on the long-term socio-economic inclusion of refugees in Chad indicates that refugee identity cards [translation] “are not recognized by some law enforcement and national defence officials” and that “they are also not accepted by banks in Chad” (Chad and UN 25 July 2017, 5).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Association tchadienne pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l’homme (ATPDH), et al. 8 February 2014. Rapport de la société civile sur la mise en œuvre du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP) au Tchad. Réponses à la liste des points à traiter. (CCPR/C/TCD/Q/2) [Accessed 19 Feb. 2020]
Chad. 28 February 2020. Commission nationale d’accueil de réinsertion des réfugiés et des rapatriés (CNARR). Correspondence from the Senior Administrator to the Research Directorate.
Chad. 26 February 2020. Commission nationale d’accueil de réinsertion des réfugiés et des rapatriés (CNARR). Correspondence from the Senior Administrator to the Research Directorate.
Chad. 24 February 2020. Commission nationale d’accueil de réinsertion des réfugiés et des rapatriés (CNARR). Correspondence from the Senior Administrator to the Research Directorate.
Chad. N.d. Commission nationale d’accueil de réinsertion des réfugiés et des rapatriés (CNARR). “Création.” [Accessed 19 Feb. 2020]
Chad and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 25 July 2017. Forum sur l’inclusion socio-économique durable des réfugiés au Tchad - Note conceptuelle. [Accessed 20 Feb. 2020]
United Nations (UN). 31 May 2018. UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Regional Update - Nigeria Situation 1-31 May 2018. [Accessed 19 Feb. 2020]
United Nations (UN). 2015. UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Central African Republic Regional Refugee Response Plan, January-December 2015. [Accessed 19 Feb. 2020]
US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). 2009. “Country Report: Chad.” World Refugee Survey 2009. [Accessed 19 Feb. 2020]
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: ecoi.net; Keesing Technologies – Documentchecker; EU – Public Register of Authentic Identity and Travel Documents Online (PRADO).
Attachments
- Chad, Commission nationale d’accueil de réinsertion des réfugiés et des rapatriés (CNARR), and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 2019. Refugee attestation. Sent to the Research Directorate by the CNARR's Senior Administrator, 24 February 2020.
- Chad, Commission nationale d’accueil de réinsertion des réfugiés et des rapatriés (CNARR), and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). N.d. Refugee identity card. Sent to the Research Directorate by the CNARR's Senior Administrator, 24 February 2020.
