The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Wednesday that it will oversee the implementation of the Italy-Albania protocol on migration to ensure adherence to human rights and international law standards. The protocol, which was approved by Albania’s Constitutional Court in January, allows Italy to process asylum seekers on Albanian territory.
The UNHCR has detailed its role in monitoring and advising all parties involved in the protocol, despite not participating in the negotiation process. Through coordination with the Italian Minister of the Interior, the UNHCR will supervise the treatment of asylum seekers over a three-month period. This oversight includes identifying any potential conflicts with international law and advocating for the protection of refugees and asylum seekers’ rights. After this period, the UNHCR will issue recommendations to both the Italian and Albanian governments and other stakeholders.
This monitoring effort is part of the UNHCR’s obligation to enforce the basis of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which establishes foundational rights and protections for refugees. The Italy-Albania agreement, which can house up to 3,000 migrants at any given time, has significant implications for migration patterns in Europe. However, it has also faced considerable opposition from international organizations like Human Rights Watch. Criticizing the protocol, HRW branded it a “model of mismanagement and a blueprint for abuse.”
For further details, you can refer to the statements by the UNHCR and the circumstances surrounding the approval by Albania’s Constitutional Court as reported by JURIST.