ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the narrative of accountability in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) resettlement strategy and the diffusion of this narrative in Australia's humanitarian programme and the European Unions (EU) joint resettlement programme. It analyzes policy documents on refugee resettlement released by UNHCR, Australian governments and community organizations and European institutions. The chapter focuses on the level of policy elaboration, or policy ideas. Australia's commitment to deliver results for populations of concern is ambivalent. It presents the discrepancy between UNHCRs post-2006 definition of accountability and its understanding in the field of refugee resettlement results in a layered narrative of accountability. It mentions court cases in which the Department is in litigation with asylum seekers as well investigations of the Australian Human Rights Commission into asylum-related matters. The chapter highlights how UNHCRs post-2006 understanding of accountability has been integrated in the refugee agency's refugee resettlement strategy.
