NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN participation of refugees and former refugees in decision-making on issues that affect their lives. These efforts helped influence the very substantial pledges made by the United States at the ministerial meeting, such as: facilitating the monitoring by UNHCR of the screening for protection of unaccompanied and separated children along the southern border with Mexico; improving detainee release practices; granting greater access to the asylum process; and providing updated training related to identifying individuals with protection needs for law enforcement personnel participating in interdiction operations. In addition, UNHCR’s work contributed to the Government’s agreement to grant parole from detention to 79 per cent of arriving asylum-seekers. In Canada, UNHCR continued to promote high standards in asylum policy and practice, as well as improved detention conditions and alternatives to detention. It also advocated for a generous resettlement environment. UNHCR provided inputs to the Government on various legislative proposals and continued its monitoring and advisory role in key areas, such as access to territory and asylum procedures, RSD and conditions of detention. Cooperation with the Canadian Border Services Agency was expanded through training and information sessions for hundreds of the agency’s employees at airports and land borders, as well as for teachers at its staff college. UNHCR also provided training to Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) decision-makers and observed hearings conducted by them. In the Caribbean UNHCR worked to ensure access to territory and accession to the Conventions. It lobbied for the adoption of regulations aimed at implementing fair and effective RSD mechanisms, conducting individual registration, and improving self-reliance and livelihoods. UNHCR also sought progress on statelessness and documentation issues, the prevention of SGBV, the provision of protection and/or durable solutions to survivors of sexual violence, and the availability of services for groups with specific needs, including women and children. These efforts resulted in Haiti pledging to accede to the Statelessness Conventions, to adopt legislative and regulatory measures and to reform the system of birth registration and civil registry. The Dominican Republic pledged to strengthen its National Refugee Committee in collaboration with UNHCR. In Haiti, undocumented IDPs were given birth certificates. Extremely vulnerable IDPs and survivors of SGBV were given shelter, mainly in safe houses, and livelihood support. Constraints In the United States, the polarized political climate, exacerbated by the difficult economic situation, presented a major challenge to UNHCR. Solutions requiring legislative interventions could not be implemented. In the course of 2011, the authorities instituted new security checks that brought down the number of resettlement admissions. The slow economy and high unemployment made it difficult for refugees in the country to find and retain jobs. State and local governments had to cut or curtail many social services, including some vital to refugees. The economic strains in some communities created opposition to accepting more refugees. The media focus on domestic economic and financial matters made it difficult to engage the public on refugee issues. In Canada, resource constraints continued to affect the RSD process. The number of asylum-seekers awaiting a decision stood at 41,000 at the end of 2011. While Canada made a commitment to increase resettlement arrivals, it has requested UNHCR to coordinate closely on further resettlement referrals in view of the large backlog. In the Caribbean, the main constraints on UNHCR’s protection agenda included a complex mixed-migration and maritime environment, the reluctance of States to institute asylum safeguards or engage in a meaningful dialogue on refugee issues, and the impact of the United States’ interdiction policy and its disembarkation practice on mixed movements. Other hurdles included the lack of political will among Caribbean States to grant documentation, work permits and residency rights to refugees; the persistence of discriminatory and xenophobic practices vis-à-vis persons of concern to UNHCR; and a lack of capacity among UNHCR’s implementing partners in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Operations In the , UNHCR continued to raise concern with the Government regarding the country’s interdiction policy and practices, in order to ensure that they do not hinder asylum-seekers’ access to fair and effective procedures. Another key priority was to address detention and expand the use of alternatives to it. UNHCR also focused on broader activities related to the anniversaries of the Conventions aimed at identifying the protection gaps in the United States and encouraging the authorities to adopt Budget and expenditure in North America and the Caribbean | USD Country Canada United States of America Regional Office1 1 PILLAR 1 PILLAR 2 PILLAR 4 Refugee programme Stateless programme IDP projects Total Budget 2,321,843 0 0 2,321,843 Expenditure 1,871,665 0 0 1,871,665 Budget 6,452,322 2,372,077 6,477,459 15,301,858 Expenditure 5,573,635 1,106,965 1,863,358 8,543,958 Total budget 8,774,165 2,372,077 6,477,459 17,623,701 Total expenditure 7,445,300 1,106,965 1,863,358 10,415,623 Includes Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, 12 Independent Caribbean States, 3 other CARICOM States and UK and Dutch territories in coordination with the Europe Bureau. UNHCR Global Report 2011 335