EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
Dist.
HIGH COMMISSIONER’S PROGRAMME
RESTRICTED
EC/54/SC/CRP.13
7 June 2004
STANDING COMMITTEE
Original: ENGLISH
30th Meeting
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON
THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATIONS ON REFUGEE WOMEN,
REFUGEE CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
SUMMARY REPORT
I. INTRODUCTION
1.
In 2001 and 2002, two independent evaluations examined the extent to which UNHCR
had implemented policies on refugee women and children in its operations, and in 2003, a third
independent evaluation reviewed the role of community services in the organization.
1 The
findings drew attention to the positive contributions that the offices of the Senior Coordinators
for Refugee Women and Children and the unit for Community Services had made to date, but
also highlighted serious shortcomings throughout the Office which required UNHCR’s urgent
attention. The five most salient and inter-related findings were: the widening gap between
UNHCR staff and refugees;
2 the weak application of UNHCR policies on the protection of
refugee women and children and community development; the low participation of refugee
women, children and adolescents in decision-making processes and correspondingly low
integration of their protection needs into programmes; the absence of coordination between
protection, programme and community services staff and the undervaluing of the role of
community services; and finally, the need for accountability mechanisms linked to the
implementation of the relevant policies, and leadership to be shown in this regard by senior
management.
2.
This report summarizes key actions taken since the publication of the findings of the
three evaluations, including the strategy adopted by UNHCR in early 2004. It will also address
progress on the related areas of the High Commissioner’s Five Commitments to refugee women
and five global concerns for refugee children. The main body of the report is divided into five
sections:
1 UNHCR policy on refugee women and guidelines on their protection: An assessment of ten years of
implementation (May 2002); Meeting the rights and protection needs of refugee children: An independent
evaluation of the impact of UNHCR’s activities (May 2002); The community services function in UNHCR: An
independent evaluation (March 2003).
2 The term “refugees” in this report also refers to returnees and internally displaced persons.
Dist.
HIGH COMMISSIONER’S PROGRAMME
RESTRICTED
EC/54/SC/CRP.13
7 June 2004
STANDING COMMITTEE
Original: ENGLISH
30th Meeting
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON
THE INDEPENDENT EVALUATIONS ON REFUGEE WOMEN,
REFUGEE CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
SUMMARY REPORT
I. INTRODUCTION
1.
In 2001 and 2002, two independent evaluations examined the extent to which UNHCR
had implemented policies on refugee women and children in its operations, and in 2003, a third
independent evaluation reviewed the role of community services in the organization.
1 The
findings drew attention to the positive contributions that the offices of the Senior Coordinators
for Refugee Women and Children and the unit for Community Services had made to date, but
also highlighted serious shortcomings throughout the Office which required UNHCR’s urgent
attention. The five most salient and inter-related findings were: the widening gap between
UNHCR staff and refugees;
2 the weak application of UNHCR policies on the protection of
refugee women and children and community development; the low participation of refugee
women, children and adolescents in decision-making processes and correspondingly low
integration of their protection needs into programmes; the absence of coordination between
protection, programme and community services staff and the undervaluing of the role of
community services; and finally, the need for accountability mechanisms linked to the
implementation of the relevant policies, and leadership to be shown in this regard by senior
management.
2.
This report summarizes key actions taken since the publication of the findings of the
three evaluations, including the strategy adopted by UNHCR in early 2004. It will also address
progress on the related areas of the High Commissioner’s Five Commitments to refugee women
and five global concerns for refugee children. The main body of the report is divided into five
sections:
1 UNHCR policy on refugee women and guidelines on their protection: An assessment of ten years of
implementation (May 2002); Meeting the rights and protection needs of refugee children: An independent
evaluation of the impact of UNHCR’s activities (May 2002); The community services function in UNHCR: An
independent evaluation (March 2003).
2 The term “refugees” in this report also refers to returnees and internally displaced persons.