International Refugee Protection

Context

According to a 2013 report released by the United Nations, the refugee crisis is at its worst since 1994, with more than 15.4 million people displaced and turned into refugees by war and conflict. The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees defines a refugee as “any person who… owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country”.

International refugee protection depends, at a basic level, on refugees possessing the freedom of movement to escape persecution and claim asylum in other countries. Yet, there are few international laws governing the treatment of refugees. Laws governing the treatment of refugees differ from country to country.

However, many countries have become increasingly reluctant to take in the ever-growing influx of refugees, due to the strain taking in these refugees puts on their resources. Even in cases when refugees have been granted asylum, they have been the targets of violent attacks and discrimination. Refugees often face stigma, both due to their status as refugees and because of the perception that refugees take up important resources that could be diverted to locals. Such refugees face an untenable situation: they are no longer guaranteed the protection of their country of origin and may not receive assistance from their host countries due to the lack of resources within the country as well as the stigma against them.

This paper will focus on actions that the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) may take to address the growing number of ...

... middle of paper ...

...atriation and removing refugees from their territory, as Turkey did in repatriating Kurds back to Northern Iraq.

Solution 2: Early warning systems

If it is not viable to erect safety zones and thus reduce the number of refugees, then the next best alternative is to ensure that even if there is an overflow of refugees, countries are prepared to take them in. Another option the CGI could consider would be cooperating with the United Nations or directing resources into funding an early warning system that maps conflicts around the world and their possible effects on refugee flights. Such a system would also estimate the impacts of refugee flights on neighboring countries, allowing them ample time to prepare.

The concept of an early warning system for refugee flows has been recommended by the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, but has never been implemented.