Published by The National Times
Sixty years on, refugee convention comes second to politics
09/12/2011
The Story Said
The Refugee Convention remains the most important tool for refugee protection and assistance and with that the idea of asylum. Yet sixty years on from the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 15.1 million international refugees increasingly face serious medical and humanitarian consequences, with states shutting their borders, ignore their responsibilities and restricting the help they give. This is an international issue. In South Africa, Zimbabweans without passports are barred entry at the main border post, denying them the possibility of applying for asylum. Exposed to myriad harms, often the unofficial, more dangerous route is taken. Following the popular uprisings in North Africa, 57,000 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants fled across the Mediterranean to Italy and Malta, with thousands perishing at sea. In these cases, those who survived the journey found themselves detained in reception centres in appalling conditions. Although important, medical and humanitarian activities are ultimately limited. Wider questions of assistance, protection and long term solutions are urgently needed to be addressed. Governments need to come up with solutions that do not see migration management working at cross-purposes with refugee protection. An active commitment to refugees through policies that are in line with the spirit of the convention is needed instead of restrictive policy.
Did you know
Most asylum seekers are genuine refugees seeking protection and a better life, fleeing war, hunger and violence. It is not illegal to seek asylum or refugee status in Australia, regardless of by which means you arrive, with or without a visa. Australia is currently home to only 0.2% of the world’s refugees. Per capita, we rank 68th in the world, and per capita GDP, we rank 77th. Malaysia has not signed the refugee convention, making it an inhumane option not guaranteeing refugee protection and assistance. The key is for governments to no adopt ad-hoc, restrictive policies, but to work on international human rights improvements. “Asylum seekers” are not dirty words.
