Africa/Global: New updates to website monitoring refugee cases

The website www.RSDWatch.org, an independent source of information about the way the UN refugee agency decides refugee cases, includes updates on the following:
- High Commissioner tells Europe that the dozens of states where UNHCR performs refugee status determination should not be considered first countries of asylum.
- UNHCR presses safeguards established in human rights, administrative law, and past UNHCR statements.
- On several fronts, UNHCR offices fail to live up to the standards that it is promoting to others.
- To Council of Europe, UNHCR emphasizes giving clear reasons for rejection, limiting the use of secret evidence, providing an independent appeal, and recognizing the right to counsel — all of which are often compromised in UNHCR’s own RSD procedures.