The Global Refugee Crisis: What are we asking world leaders?
The UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants comes at a time of unprecedented global displacement, with an estimated 65.3 million people forcibly displaced from their homes.
Refugees are fleeing violence, war and oppression. They have a right to seek sanctuary and to find safety wherever they are from.
This week’s summit, taking place on Monday in New York, must bring hope to the millions of people forced to live in degrading conditions, and support them to find a safe place to call home.
The international meeting is expected to kick-start a two-year process for a new ‘Global Compact’ for people on the move, to be finalised by September 2018.
Ahead of the summit, Christian Aid is urging world leaders to increase their support for refugee resettlement, drastically reform the way they finance refugee aid for poor countries, and rightfully recognise the human dignity of people on the move.
1.Countries must commit to hosting their fair share of refugees. We urgently need to increase support for refugee resettlement, provide safe and legal routes for refugees to reach places to seek asylum, and allow families to reunite when they have been separated when fleeing.
86% of refugees — driven from their homes by conflict, violence and instability — are in poor countries; struggling to live in inhumane conditions.
At the same time, rich countries are erecting barbed wire and legal obstacles to keep out those in need, letting poor countries bear the biggest burden.
2. World leaders must drastically improve the financial responses to refugee crises, to give more power, resources and voice to local populations. The funding that has been promised needs to be delivered.
Nations occasionally announce generous pledges, including at the Syria Conference earlier this year, but many are never paid.
In Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya, funding shortfalls are having dire consequences for refugees, displaced people and host communities.
3. Refugees human rights must be protected. The UN Convention for the Protection of Refugees must be approved by all countries.
It is unacceptable that so many desperate people still face further violence, exploitation, neglect and abuse.
Countries hosting refugees must lift the legal and policy barriers that prevent them from accessing legal stay, basic services and a means to make a living.
We need much more investment in education for all children — otherwise we run the risk of creating ‘lost generations’.
4. We want to see more support for those who have been displaced and also for their new neighbours. This can help to improve the local economy and relationships between diverse groups of people.
86% of refugees are in poor countries, whose systems need support to cope with the expanded populations.
Displacement is not a just short-term issue: refugees are uprooted from their lives for an average of 17 years.
Communities hosting displaced people also need support.
5. Much greater effort must be put into addressing the root causes of forced displacement and should be addressed honestly.
People forced to flee conflict, violence and chronic poverty must be given protection but greater effort must be put into reducing why they flee.
Failed attempts to bring warring or conflicting parties to the negotiating table have left populations displaced for decades for as long as 70 years (in the case of Palestinians).
6. There needs to be a shift in the global approach to migration.
No human being is illegal: they are entitled to protection from exploitation and an opportunity to lead dignified lives.
The rights of migrants must be upheld, to reduce the risks they face, protect vulnerable groups, and positively impact societies and economies. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
Join us in changing the story around refugees: write to your newspaper and tell them that refugees deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.
