The disastrous repercussions of the major world wars have included several civil conflicts. This is the cause of the ongoing widespread migration. Sadly, some people presume every foreigner in their country is a refugee.
Nowadays, wars are increasingly complicated and primarily related to international trade and development. However, the desire for certain countries to be considered superior has increased global pressures to respond to mass migration appropriately. Among these complexities is the reality of people moving from country to country. They have hopes of being rescued from violent outbreaks in their home countries.
Others have traveled in search of ‘greener pastures to settle in economically and politically stable countries. In rarer cases, relocation is because of severe climate change effects, hence the new term ‘climate migration’. Evidently, the reasons for migration in the age of globalization are endless. However, how the West welcomes and addresses displaced populations is often politically incorrect or discriminatory. This negative attitude has left migrants with a wrong impression of their once-idealized new country.
A significant difficulty is distinguishing between a migrant, a refugee, a stateless person, and an asylum seeker. These labels are used interchangeably, which remains a pertinent problem when addressing and interacting with foreigners.
Many displaced people seek a fresh start in a peaceful country free from violence. Others are fleeing uncontrollable natural disasters or instability. Most migrants adapt to incorrect labeling and frequent assumptions. Their main reason is that the thought of returning to their home country is not a viable possibility.
Who is a Migrant?
To begin, a migrant is a person who moves from one place to another to stay permanently or temporarily. The main reason is usually to find work or better living conditions. Thus, migrants move mainly for economic reasons. In several countries, if a migrant has a legally paid job or internship, their visas are provided by the government immigration or justice departments with minimal difficulty. They can extend said visas upon maintaining a good criminal and work record. These populations are protected under the national labor laws of the host country.
Who is a refugee?
Moving forward, the Convention on the Status of Refugees defines a refugee. It states ‘someone unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.’
Sadly, in some non-signatory countries, people cannot apply for refugee status because there are no national refugee laws. Some countries, like Indonesia, have made extra efforts to promulgate a National Refugee Act. Approved refugee status remains a complex ordeal for several countries. They hesitate to provide these because of the social and economic consequences it brings to an already overloaded government.
For others, the challenges in accepting refugees involve the backlash from citizens—some protest against using their taxes to support jobless foreigners. In South Korea, some citizens protested against the government accepting refugees due to fear of religious intrusion. For example, hundreds of Yemeni Muslims migrated to Jeju Island in 2018. However, The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations can be applauded. They have instigated and admonished governments to grant or increase the number of approved refugee status applications.
Who is a Stateless Person?
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of stateless people worldwide. A stateless person is someone who is ‘not considered as a national by any state under the operation of its law.’ Usually, refugees are stateless.
A typical example would be a child born into a refugee family staying in a country without legal refugee status. This also applies to refugee families living in non-Hague signatory countries who had children in those countries. Hague countries refer to those nations that have neither signed nor ratified the United Nations Refugee Convention.
What is the difference between a refugee and an Asylum Seeker?
Finally, asylum seekers flee their home countries to another and request the right to be internationally protected in this other country. Distinctively, an asylum seeker is a type of migrant with no economic motivation – they could be a refugee or a displaced person. Once their asylum status has been approved, they usually have legal rights to work and receive certain benefits from the government.
No government has been able to prevent or stop the influx of people from other countries, whether migrants or asylum seekers. However, every government should educate its citizens on the critical differences between these populations.
A general understanding of international refugee law should be included in secondary school curriculums to increase knowledge of new immigrants living or visiting their countries and respect for social integration. Many immigrants and refugees deal with stigmatization and disrespect by those who are ignorant of the background and cultural context of their situations.
Recommendation
I think governments should ensure their citizens are aware of the reasons and types of migration in relation to their national history. This will go a long way to fostering empathy and building compassion. Inevitably, some people will never fully understand the plights of migrants or refugees. However, education is a good starting point. Xenophobic and racist attitudes towards foreigners exist mainly because of misinformation.
Further, governments must explain the reasons for mass migration and emphasize the potential positive contributions to society. Several countries have thrived economically due to immigration. This growth could be accompanied by policies and laws that permit such foreigners to work and contribute to the development of the economy and overall well-being. Most foreigners, regardless of their documentation type, are willing to share their skill set to benefit themselves and their host country.
In conclusion, countries should ensure that open borders equate to fundamental human rights and respect given to those entering the country. It is not beneficial for any party for refugees to be provided with accommodation yet denied the possibility to use their inert abilities or pre-acquired skills. Legal status accords to respect and reflects dignity; thus, addressing those with appropriate labels will foster a culture of acceptance and respect. The relevance of migration in the age of globalization cannot be overlooked. Thus, there should be intentional efforts to correct misconceptions about people relocating worldwide.
The Organization for World Peace publishes the original article.
More articles about refugees, like why is Angela Markel awarded a UNHCR refugee award is here.
