2.4 Office Security
2.4.1 General Security Procedures
The risk of incidents involving violence against UNHCR staff members or other persons on UNHCR
premises, or acts or threats of self-injury, must be taken into account and effectively managed in UNHCR
RSD operations. All facilities and procedures for RSD in UNHCR Offices should ensure the safety and
security of UNHCR staff and asylum-seekers and other persons of concern who approach UNHCR.
Protection staff will not be expected to take the lead role in the development and implementation of
security measures and procedures for the Office, but should be involved and aware that such procedures
may have a direct impact on the quality of RSD procedures. In particular, inadequate or inappropriate
security procedures may affect the ability of asylum-seekers and other persons of concern to have access
to UNHCR Offices and staff. Lack of effective security procedures can also deter asylum-seekers from
approaching UNHCR.
Coordination is necessary between UNHCR Protection staff and other staff or individuals who are
responsible for security in the UNHCR Office, to ensure that:
UNHCR security policies and guidelines are fully implemented in the RSD procedures;
Protection concerns are taken into account in the development and implementation of security
procedures in each Office.
STANDARDS & GUIDELINES
SECURITY PROVISIONS IN RSD PROCEDURES:
Measures for crowd control and the orderly entry of individuals into UNHCR premises;
Security guidelines for conducting individual counselling and interviews, including the lay out and
furnishing of interview rooms;
Procedures regarding the movement of asylum-seekers and other persons of concern in the UNHCR
compound/premise and the areas and circumstances in which escorted access should be required;
Effective measures for all UNHCR staff to alert security personnel (UNHCR Field Security Advisors)
and unarmed private security services (security guards/security company)1 of potential security
incidents and to obtain prompt assistance, including the use of emergency panic buttons at reception
and in spaces used for counselling and RSD Interviews;
Appropriate and gender and age-sensitive response to security incidents involving asylum-seekers
and refugees;
Provision of sufficient space and resources in dedicated assembly points and safe rooms to ensure
that asylum-seekers and other persons of concern who are on UNHCR premises for RSD purposes
are kept safe in case of security and safety emergencies when they are not themselves the source of
the security threat;
Procedures for reporting security incidents to the appropriate staff members in the Office, as well as
any other requirements for reporting within the region and to UNHCR Headquarters.
1
40
Unarmed private security services (security guards/security company), armed privat security services host
goverment security guards as these may all be guarding UN premises.
Procedural Standards for RSD under UNHCR’s Mandate