4. ADJUDICATION OF REFUGEE STATUS CLAIMS
135
4.1 Assigning Cases for RSD Adjudication................................................................................................................ 136
4.1.1 UNHCR Staff Authorized to Conduct RSD.................................................................................................. 136
4.1.2 Assigning RSD Cases – Relevant Factors...................................................................................................... 136
Contents
4.1.3 Determining Case Processing Capacity for Eligibility Officers........................................................... 137
4.1.4 Controls on Case Assignment / Transfer...................................................................................................... 139
4.2 Qualifications, Training and Supervision of Eligibility Officers................................................................... 140
4.2.1 Minimum Qualifications for Eligibility Officers.......................................................................................... 140
4.2.2 Training of Eligibility Officers............................................................................................................................ 141
4.2.3 Supervision of Eligibility Officers..................................................................................................................... 143
4.2.4 Duty of Care in Individual Case Processing ............................................................................................... 144
4.3 The RSD Interview and Assessment..................................................................................................................... 145
4.3.1 The Applicant’s Right to an Individual RSD Interview............................................................................. 145
4.3.2 Remote Participation of the Applicant in the RSD Interview............................................................... 145
4.3.3 Participation by Legal Representatives......................................................................................................... 149
4.3.4 Attendance by Third Parties other than Legal Representatives......................................................... 149
4.3.5 Planning and Preparation for the RSD Interview...................................................................................... 150
4.3.6 Opening the RSD Interview............................................................................................................................... 151
4.3.7 Interviewing the Applicant................................................................................................................................. 153
4.3.8 Interviewing Child Applicants........................................................................................................................... 154
4.3.9 Review of Original Documents in the RSD Interview.............................................................................. 155
4.3.10 Closing the RSD Interview............................................................................................................................... 157
4.3.11 Evaluation of the RSD Interview................................................................................................................... 158
4.3.12 Recording the RSD Interview......................................................................................................................... 158
4.3.13 Information Provided by Witnesses............................................................................................................ 163
4.3.14 Interview of Family Members or other Dependants............................................................................. 164
4.3.15 The RSD Assessment.......................................................................................................................................... 166
4.4 Procedures for Review of RSD Decisions........................................................................................................... 169
4.4.1 General Principles.................................................................................................................................................. 169
4.4.2 Procedures for Revising the RSD Decision.................................................................................................. 170
4.4.3 Procedures for Consultation with UNHCR Regional Bureau(s) and DIP
on RSD Decisions............................................................................................................................................................... 171
4.4.4 Procedures for Changing the RSD Decision after it is Issued............................................................... 174
4.5 Timelines for Issuing RSD Decisions.................................................................................................................... 175
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