ISSUE 8 • MAY 2008 Immigration Matters C A I I • THE CHURCHES’ AGENCY ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES: RESOURCING CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS ON GLOBAL CONCERNS Seeking Refuge in a Strange Land – the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers hroughout history innocent people cleansing and crimes against humanity. Nicholson have been forced from their homes The Responsibility to Protect is becoming Tto seek safety and refuge in the an important issue for collective face of violence. Despite the United discussion and action when states and Nations (UN) agreeing in 1951 to the the international community have failed Convention relating to the Status of to prevent catastrophe. Refugees, civilians continue to be The United Nations High Commission for caught up in horrifying wars, whole Refugees (UNHCR) currently recognises communities are displaced within their some 14 million refugees. In addition, own countries and many live or are an estimated 24.5 million people are “warehoused” in makeshift refugee displaced within their own countries. camps relying on humanitarian aid With the large numbers of displaced for their very survival. Displacement people and increasing insecurity, there has become a strategy of war. Some, is a lot of pressure on governments, the especially those with more resources, international community, the churches, have sought refuge in developed and concerned people to uphold the countries but many more have entered Responsibility to Protect. Facing these neighbouring developing countries where challenges as a faith community is part often they are competing for limited of the continuing Christian commitment resources with those living in the host to help those made vulnerable by country. The human cost has been circumstances beyond their control. very high. This Hot Topic explores: People have sought refuge in Aotearoa While the highest priority is to prevent New Zealand since the mid nineteenth the conflict and disempowerment ›› Definitions and Statistics century. This Hot Topic examines some that creates displacement, Christians of the key areas of concern relating share a responsibility to protect those ›› The Responsibility to resettlement and the hurdles that who are most vulnerable, including to Protect refugees and asylum seekers face, how refugees and asylum seekers. The UN a host country such as New Zealand can specifically referred to the responsibility ›› Refugee Resettlement in learn from the experiences of refugees in of individual members to protect the ever-growing multicultural societies, and New Zealand needs and rights of civilian populations how churches can continue to engage in its 60th Anniversary statement. In ›› Refugee stories in the debates central to a theology of the same document the international kindness, hospitality and justice toward ›› What the churches are community, through the UN, accepted the strangers seeking refuge. the responsibility to protect populations saying internationally. from genocide, war crimes, ethnic The Anglican The Salvation The The Religious Church in Army in New Methodist Society of Aotearoa, New Zealand, Fiji Church of Friends Zealand and and Tonga New Zealand Christian World Service Polynesia Hot Topics • Topic 8 • May 2008 • 1 Definitions: Refugee: The 1951 UN Refugee migrants’ seeking an improved or even Stateless person: Someone who because Convention defines a refugee as someone an adequate livelihood when they see of their ethnicity or history is denied the who: “owing to well-founded fear of being no future at home. The definition does right to a nationality. For them “going persecuted for reasons of race, religion, not allow for economic or environmental home” may not depend on a peace accord nationality, membership of a particular refugees - those who flee because they and repatriation, but rather, on overcoming social group or political opinion, is outside can no longer survive in their own land. bureaucratic obstacles and securing an the country of his nationality and is unable, Receiving countries sometimes accept official identity. The estimate of stateless or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail refugees for political reasons, for example people worldwide has risen to nearly six himself of the protection of that country; refugees from Cuba find it easier to gain million from some 60 countries. or who, not having a nationality and being asylum in the USA than those fleeing Uprooted People: Overarching term that outside the country of his former habitual repressive regimes from Central America. includes communities who flee because residence as a result of such events, is Sadly, those facing persecution on the of persecution and war, people who are unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling basis of sexual orientation, health status forcibly displaced because of environmental to return to it.” or gender often find it difficult to receive devastation and are compelled to seek protection. The Convention places certain obligations sustenance in a city or abroad because they upon States which are party to it, the Asylum seeker: Someone who is a foreign cannot survive at home. most fundamental of which is the principle national seeking the right to reside as Warehoused refugees: Typically, but not of ‘non-refoulement’. This concerns the a refugee in another country, and to be always, confined to camps or segregated obligation of countries of asylum not protected by that country, but who has not settlements where they are virtually to return people forcibly to situations yet been formally recognised as a refugee. dependent on humanitarian assistance. where they have a well-founded fear of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): Even refugees who are free to move are persecution. The primary responsibility People forced to flee their home, often still ‘warehoused’ if they are not allowed for protecting and assisting refugees lies for the same reasons as a refugee, but their rights to work, practice professions, with States, particularly the countries of who have not crossed an internationally run businesses, and own property. These asylum to which refugees flee. UNHCR recognised border. Many IDPs are in are people for whom the international promotes and monitors States’ adherence refugee-like situations and face the same community has not been able to find a to the Convention to enable them to offer problems as refugees but are subject to solution. It is too dangerous to return home adequate protection to the refugees in the laws of their home state rather than but they have not been able to resettle in a their territory. international law. third country. It is not easy for a person to be recognised by the UNHCR. To reach a UNHCR office to register can be extremely difficult, Statistics on Uprooted People particularly in conflict situations. The process is bureaucratic and refugees do 30 not always have the means to prove their 24.5 million status. Some are labelled as ‘economic 25 20 PERSPECTIVES 13.9 million 15 8.8 million “New Zealand was the only 10 option, however, saving my life was more important than 5 2.1 million* choosing where to go.” 1.1 million* 69.4 thousand 0 Iranian Convention refugee, six months in NZ Years or More Displaced People Refugees resettled and Asylum Seekers Total number of Internally Total Number of Refugees Refugees “Warehoused” Five New Internally Displaced People New Refugees and Asylum Seekers Writer: Ruth Greenaway * Represents persons who fled their homes during 2006, including those who fled and returned within the year. Layout: Marcus Thomas (from World Refugee Survey 2007 (www.refugees.org) and Internal Displacement Global Overview 2007 (www.internal-displacement.org) ) 2 • The Churches’ Agency on International Issues Who decides who is a refugee? Q: Where do most refugees come from?* Q: What countries and territories host The UNHCR and individual governments Afghanistan 3,260,300 most of the world’s refugees? have separate procedures for deciding Former Palestine 3,036,400 Host Country # of Refugees whether a person is a recognised refugee. Those who are documented as refugees Iraq 1,687,800 Pakistan 2,161,500 by the UNHCR are allowed to remain in Burma (Myanmar) 693,300 Syria 1,329,300 the country of asylum, often in a refugee Sudan 648,000 Iran 1,025,000 camp, until such time as they are resettled or they choose to return home - this can Colombia 453,300 Gaza Strip 1,017,000 take many years. Resettlement is an Democratic Republic 412,300 Jordan 862,700 option for less than 1% of the world’s of Congo West Bank 722,000 refugees. Some women have been granted Somalia 410,300 Tanzania 485,700 refugee protection on the basis of their need for protection from cruel or inhumane Burundi 393,700 India 435,900 treatment. Those who do not receive Vietnam 308,000 Thailand 408,400 refugee documentation may be deported, Eritrea 255,400 although UNHCR does recommend that Note: All statistics from http://www.refugees.org/article. Angola 195,000 aspx?id=1941 people whose applications for asylum have been declined are granted the right China 158,700 of a review and that they be offered some Liberia 141,100 protection if coming from countries facing armed conflict. *Numbers are for refugees and asylum seekers as of December 31, 2006, and do not include persons granted For more information refer to www.unhcr.org permanent status in other countries. All at Sea – the story of the Tampa Refugees any Afghani refugees have lived in accepted 133 young men who were taken life in New Zealand. Director Peter Cotton Mrefugee camps all their lives. In an into care by Child Youth and Family. In says that the onus is on the community to attempt to improve their prospects they 2005, 76 of the ‘Tampa Boys’ were granted accept new arrivals if the process is to work. often go to extraordinary lengths to find a citizenship, Prime Minister Helen Clark “Whilst you may view resettlement as some new future in other countries.