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WHY?

This initiative is part of the principles established by the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 19 September 2016 and which responds to the deficiencies observed in the reception and integration of migrants and refugees.
Annex 1 of this New York Declaration establishes a Comprehensive Response Framework for refugees, with specific actions that are necessary to ensure: prompt and well-founded reception and admission measures; support for immediate and persistent needs (e.g., protection, health and education); support to national and local institutions and refugee communities; and increased opportunities for the development of durable solutions.

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WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

Community Sponsorship offers the opportunity for citizens to participate directly in the main tasks of reception and integration of refugees. Community Sponsors are committed to providing social, material and financial support to newcomers during their integration process into their new communities.
This strategy develops the materialization of a Reception and Integration System that is developed through individualized integration itineraries, whose purpose is to facilitate the progressive autonomy of the recipients and their social and labor integration into the host society.
The Agreement between the Regional Government and the organizations in charge has a stipulated duration of two years, although, at any time, before the end of the envisaged period, the signatories to the Agreement may unanimously agree to its extension for biennial periods up to a maximum of four additional years.

MAIN GOALS

Contribute to the improvement of shared responsibilities, by expanding the use of Community Sponsorship as an instrument for refugees in need of protection and solutions.
Encourage the expansion of resettlement, strengthening the capacities of states, civil society actors, and citizens, to launch Community Sponsorship programs.
Provide a mean that mobilizes citizens in direct support of refugees and encourage a broader political debate that supports the protection of refugees.

TARGET GROUPS

Aimed at beneficiaries of international protection, who have been transferred to Spain within the framework of refugee resettlement programs or other initiatives aimed at opening legal ways of access to protection for refugees, at the proposal of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, through the Secretary of State for Migration.
This pilot experience is carried out with five families, a total of twenty-three beneficiaries of international protection, within the framework of the National Resettlement Program 2018. The project is developed in five municipalities: Alaquàs, Almassora, Calp, Cocentaina and València.

SOME FRESH NEWS…

Five Syrian families from the Lebanon refugee camps are benefiting form this program.
The sponsoring organizations are giving them their full support: teachers to learn the language, counsellors to help them manage the money and, the most important, a network of contacts to promote their full integration into the community.
The experience is being very positive as it has been stated in the last meeting of the Joint commission that monitors the project.

SCOPE FOR REPLICATION

Community Sponsorship of Refugees and Migrants, originally implemented for the first time in Canada, aims to be a global initiative.
It also has the endorsement and support of UNHCR and other entities that have launched the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative, so its objective is that this initiative is replicated where there is the will to respond to the needs of migrants and refugees based on respect for human rights.