Document #1258804
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to an official with the UNHCR in
Ottawa, Bolivia is a signatory to the 1951 United Nations
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 United
Nations Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, and has
ratified and implemented the Cartegena Declaration (3 Mar. 1994).
According to the source, there are no limitations on who may apply
for refugee status in Bolivia, and the country is open to asylum
seekers from the PRC (ibid.). The source added that a person could
apply for refugee status from inside Bolivia through Bolivia's
National Commission for Refugees (CONARE)(ibid.).
The source stated that the commission is
comprised of seven members, one of whom is from the UNHCR (ibid.).
The source also stated that if a claimant is granted refugee
status, he or she may be given an identity card and a Convention
Travel Document and receive the right to reside and to work in
Bolivia (ibid.).
For additional information on the refugee
determination process in Bolivia, please refer to the attached
document sent to the DIRB by the UNHCR in Ottawa.
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
UNHCR, Ottawa. 3 March 1994. Telephone
interview with information officer.
UNHCR, Ottawa. 4 March 1994. Fax sent to
the DIRB.