Refugees International’s Recommendations

• Respect the right of all people to have a nationality and take immediate concrete steps to reach this end for all Biharis who want it. For some, the preferred solution may be relocation to Pakistan; for others it may be affirmation of citizenship in Bangladesh. For vulnerable persons resettlement to third countries may be the best option.
• Collaborate with the UN, and local and international NGOs, to ensure that each camp has enough basic amenities, including water, latrines, schools, and medical clinics, to accommodate its population in the short-term and evaluate if current settlements should be rehabilitated or whether residents should be relocated in the future.
• Accede to and adhere to principles of the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

• Take concrete and measurable steps to resolve the situation of the Biharis by ceasing to wait for the external survey and move forward with agency plans for action.
• Facilitate tripartite discussions to resolve the protracted plight of the Biharis.
• Develop and implement programs to provide temporary humanitarian assistance and relief for Biharis until a durable solution is found for every stateless individual who wishes it.

• Demand protection for stateless populations by state actors and the UN.
• Develop foreign policies to prevent the development of and reduce statelessness.
• Provide additional funding as necessary to support viable programs to prevent loss of nationality, provide assistance, and resolve statelessness.