Red Cross Red Crescent movement and migration: response without distinction Karin Afeef, senior migration adviser

Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles ■Humanity – prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. ■Impartiality – No discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. Guided solely by needs. ■Neutrality – does not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of political, racial, religious or ideological nature ■Independence - maintains autonomy vis a vis government and other actors ■Voluntary service – not prompted in any matter by desire for gain ■Unity – only one RCRC society in any one country ■Universality – All societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties worldwide

Humanitarian Diplomacy ■Humanitarian diplomacy is persuading decision makers and opinion leaders to act, at all times, in the interests of vulnerable people, and with full respect for fundamental humanitarian principles.

RCRC Migration policy ■Red Cross action based on needs and irrespective of migrant’s legal status. Strictly humanitarian approach. ■Humanitarian access, also to irregular migrants ■Aims at humanizing migrants rather than excluding them ■Addressing legal issues as they concern needs and vulnerabilities ■Neither prevents nor promotes migration ■Link assistance, protection and humanitarian advocacy for migrants

Principles in practice I: Italian Red Cross efforts during the Mediterranean crisis ■2000 deaths in Mediterranean so far this year (IOM ) ■ persons crossed to Mediterranean first six months of 2015 (UNHCR, ) – 83 % increase compared to 2014 ■Largest number of arrivals in Greece (from Turkey) ■Red Cross response: saving lives, basic needs, advocacy ■

Principles in practice II: Shelter project for destitute migrants ■ Increase in number of destitute migrants arriving in Norway following EU expansion 2004 and 2007 ■ Mainly from Romania and Bulgaria, many with Roma background ■ Humanitarian challenge – establishment of shelter project july 2013 ■ nights registered, 2500 individual guests and 800 volunteers involved. ■ Local authorities not pleased with humanitarian effort Case: Shelter project for destitute migrants

Principles in practice III: Health Centre for migrants ■Irregular migrant – “A person who, owing to unauthorized entry, breach of a condition of entry, or the expiry of his or her visa, lacks legal status in a transit or host country.” ■In Norway, many irregular migrants are failed asylum seekers, however this is a very heterogeneous group ■Statistics Norway “guesstimate” – persons (2006) ■Research shows that this group faces grave challenges relating to — Health (also important public health dimension) — Housing — Livelihood — Minors ■Minimum rights secured through legal framework, however no access to services in practice.

Norwegian Red Cross involvement ■Health Centre for undocumented migrants established in 2009 in collaboration with the Church City Mission in Oslo ■More than 1000 treated annually. Largest groups from Afghanistan, Mongolia, Somalia and Romania. ■150 volunteer health workers providing free services ■

Main challenges re. health and undocumented migrants in Norway ■Irregular migrants only have the right to access emergency health assistance and they have to pay for it. ■Children of irregular migrants have limited access to health services. This is in contravention to the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Children suffer as parents are denied health services. ■Health provisions to irregular migrants are unclear and practiced differently. Medical staff are asked to make assessments which would breach ethical codes of conduct within their profession. ■Undocumented migrants do not seek help for medical conditions, fearing large costs and detention/deportation. This can have grave humanitarian consequences. ■No political climate to support a more humane policy

Advocacy ■National hearings ■Collaboration with other agencies e.g. Doctor’s Association of Norway (Legeforeningen) and Juss Buss (Law student’s legal aid organization) ■Individual complaints mechanisms to the County Governor (Fylkesmannen). Gathering enough cases to send a broader complaint to The Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Humanitarian assistance under pressure ■”Search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean sea encourages people to undertake the dangerous journey with an expectation to be saved” Theresa May, UK interior minister cited in The Guardian ■The shelter will most likely become permanent and it will be impossible to undo what has now been started. That is why we oppose this approach, we are about to build up services to people who come to Norway to beg” Norwegian politician ■”Providing health care to illegal migrants should banned and health personell should report to the police if they are approached by an illegal migrant” Norwegian politician

Thank you!