On January 24, 2013 the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Republic of Belarus, Representation of the International Organization for Migration in the Republic of Belarus, Republican Public Association "Belarusian Red Cross Society" and Public Association "Belarusian Movement of Medical Workers" signed the Protocol of Intent of Cooperation on the issue of monitoring of access of foreign nationals and stateless persons to the refugee status or complementary protection determination procedure in the Republic of Belarus.
According to the signed document, the parties agreed to cooperate on the issue of execution of monitoring visits to confinement centers or temporary detention facilities of internal affairs authorities or the other institutions of internal affairs authorities where foreign nationals or stateless persons are administratively detained for the purposes of providing detained foreigners with information about refugee status or complementary protection determination procedure, their legal status in the Republic of Belarus, and also in order to provide them with emergency assistance. Intentions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Representation of the UNHCR in the Republic of Belarus, Representation of the IOM in the Republic of Belarus and public associations regarding monitoring visits, familiarization monitoring visits conduct, financing of these activities are stated in the Protocol. The document strictly describes the procedure of organization and conduct of monitoring visits, and also provides for establishment of the Coordination Board for the purposes of planning, coordination and analysis of work on monitoring of access of foreign nationals and stateless persons to the refugee status or complementary protection in the Republic of Belarus. The Protocol of Intent of Cooperation is aimed to facilitate the mechanism of cooperation and access of authorities and public associations to foreigners appeared in a difficult situation.