The Article 35 (2) (a) of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees says: “In order to enable the Office of the High Commissioner or any other agency of the United Nations which may succeed it, to make reports to the competent organs of the United Nations, the Contracting States undertake to provide them in the appropriate form with information and statistical data requested concerning: (a) The condition of refugees….”

The Slovak Republic wonders how other EMN members have interpreted this provision and has asked the following:

1. Do you report to UNHCR each individual case of apprehension, detention, or other official act involving a person already granted asylum (including granted by another country) even if this person did not request that UNHCR be notified?
2. On the basis of Article 35 (2) (a) of the 1951 Convention, do you provide UNHCR only with statistical data or other depersonalized data or do your reports also contain personal data of refugees?

16 countries, not including Norway, responded to the query. Most responded that they provided only depersonalized statistics to UNHCR.