Voluntary Repatriation

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) considers voluntary repatriation to be a durable solution for refugees, and their preferred option. It involves refugees returning to their country of origin safely and with dignity and regaining access to national protection. The UNHCR believes that voluntary repatriation is the only option that can re-establish the bond between refugees and their countries of origin and between citizens and the state. 

The key principles of voluntary repatriation are voluntariness, which involves free choice and an informed decision, and the guarantee of legal, physical, and material safety upon return. The country of origin must commit to helping reintegrate its own people, and the international community must continue to support the process. International organizations work with host governments to facilitate returns, and the UNHCR provides return assistance and legal aid to returnees. 

However, voluntary repatriation may not be ideal for all refugees, especially women. For example, in 1998, when Myanmar resumed repatriation, Rohingya refugees faced obstacles due to restrictive bureaucratic procedures and conditions put in place by the Burmese authorities.