Writenet
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher/WRITENET.html
Last update of this source description: 28 November 2008, current as at 19 October 2011. Please note: no Writenet reports have been published since June 2009 (as at 19 October 2011).
Mission/Mandate:
“WRITENET is a network of researchers and writers on human rights, forced migration, ethnic and political conflict. It is a subsidiary of Practical Management a British network of academics and experts on asylum and refugee related issues. WRITENET country papers are commissioned by UNHCR.” (UNHCR-Refworld, http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher/WRITENET.html, accessed on 28 November 2008)
“The UNHCR Status Determination Protection Information Section, part of the Division of International Protection Services, commissions external research studies on countries of origin and/or countries of asylum through WriteNet.”(E-mail enquiry, UNHCR Status Determination and Protection Information Section, 21 November 2008)
The intention of these analyses is to draw on the author’s expert knowledge of the current state of affairs in a given country and produce a paper with the background, recent events and expert opinion on future trends, especially as they bear on the creation/treatment of refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR. (E-mail enquiry, UNHCR Status Determination and Protection Information Section, 21 November 2008)
Target group:
UNHCR, general public
Objective:
The objective is to enable and/or facilitate well-informed decision-making concerning Refugee Status Determination, UNHCR policy-making and appropriate allocation of resources. (E-mail enquiry, UNHCR Status Determination and Protection Information Section, 21 November 2008)
Funding:
By UNHCR and Practical Management (British-based wide network of academics and experts on asylum and refugees related issues)
Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: All relevant countries world wide. (Countries of Origin)
Thematic focus: WriteNet reports focus on human rights, forced migration, ethnic and political conflicts. They normally include general background to the current situation, an introduction to recent events, an analysis of conflict within the country’s territories, trends, likely future developments, a fresh analysis of the contemporary situation and potential for population displacement, as well as concrete proposals for addressing the most pressing issues affecting persons of concern to UNHCR in the conclusion. (E-mail enquiry, UNHCR Status Determination and Protection Information Section, 21 November 2008)
Reporting methodology:
Reports “are prepared on the basis of publicly available information, analysis and comment. All sources are cited. The papers are not, and do not purport to be, either exhaustive with regard to conditions in the countries surveyed, or conclusive as to the merits of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. The views expressed in the papers are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of UNHCR.” (UNHCR-Refworld, http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher/WRITENET.html, accessed on 28 November 2008)
Publication cycle:
WriteNet publishes about five/six country papers per year. The number of Reports depends on the commissions by the UNHCR. (E-mail enquiry, UNHCR Status Determination and Protection Information Section, 21 November 2008)
Languages:
English
Navigation of website:
A WriteNet website does not exist. Reports can be accessed on the UNHCR website (http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher.html) by selecting “Publishers A-Z” and then “Writenet” on the menu bar. This leads to a list of country reports from which to select the WriteNet Report in question.