site.btaCE Human Rights Commissioner Advises Bulgaria to View Syrian Refugees as People Who Will Stay

CE Human Rights Commissioner Advises Bulgaria to View Syrian Refugees as People Who Will Stay


Brussels/Strasbourg, February 3 (BTA correspondent Nikolai
Jeliazkov) - Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Nils Muiznieks Tuesday presented his opinion on Syrian refugees,
 urging Bulgaria to start viewing them as people who will stay,
not as temporary residents.

Commissioner Muiznieks said: "It is high time for European
countries to step up the integration of Syrian refugees into
their societies. Given the protracted nature of the Syrian
conflict, many of these refugees are likely to remain in Europe
and become citizens of their host countries. This is true also
of countries like Hungary, Bulgaria or Serbia, which until now
have seen themselves as transit countries. Integration policies
should be overarching, covering human rights sensitisation and
awareness-raising amongst the host communities and refugees,
education, employment, housing, healthcare and other social
services."

Muiznieks said: "The European states, especially the biggest and
 wealthiest, should show international solidarity also by taking
 in more Syrian refugees." He also called for an end to
push-backs because "non-entry policies and practices actually
increase irregular migration and are grist for the mill of
smugglers and traffickers".

Muiznieks stressed that the vast majority of Syrians - over 3.8
million - are still being hosted by Syria's neighbouring
countries Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. "However, these countries
are now struggling to address the basic needs of Syrian
refugees. Problems include overcrowded schools and health
facilities, the strain on water, sanitation and electricity
infrastructures, and the lack of adequate housing."

The Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner also said that
 "no Syrian refugee child in Europe should be left without a
nationality". He cited data showing that around 70 per cent of
more than 50,000 Syrian children born in the neighbouring
countries since the conflict started in 2011 may be without a
birth certificate. Securing the future of Syrian children must
remain a priority of Europe's response to the plight of Syrian
refugees, said Muiznieks.