The Migrant Crisis has resulted in millions of Middle Eastern and North African refugees
seeking asylum in Europe.
Refugees have faced hostility from nationalist groups, but they have a number of international
protections.
So what rights do refugees have?
First, it’s important to clarify who falls into this category.
Refugees and asylum seekers, are those who have been displaced from their home countries
due to unforeseeable circumstances like war or cultural persecution.
The term refugee is simply another name for asylum seekers whose asylum application has
been approved.
Additionally, the term “migrant” applies to all those travelling between countries,
including economic refugees.
Fortunately for refugees, the United Nations defines a number of rights to protect and
care for vulnerable migrants.
Those rights were outlined in the UN’s 1951 refugee convention, which was originally created
to help Europe cope with millions of stateless people following World War 2.
According to the convention, if a displaced person faces persecution on the basis of their
beliefs or identity, they are legally allowed to enter a foreign country to ask for asylum.
Additionally, this host country is not allowed to send them back to their home state if their
“life or freedom would be threatened.”
These situations are often the result of war or genocide, which displace large numbers
of people; however, unrelated events like natural disasters or generalized violence
do not usually qualify victims for refugee status.
But the law doesn’t stop at protecting a refugee’s life; the United Nations also
mandates that countries must respect a refugee’s well-being.
Refugees have the right to access the courts, to primary education, to work, and to obtain
identity cards.
Countries are also encouraged to provide refugees with other welfare services, and to ensure
the unity of a refugee’s family.
Nearly all services available to legal immigrants are also available to refugees.
In the US, they are eligible for Social Security, Food Stamps, Medicare, Section 8 public housing,
and many more aid programs.
Across Europe, the extent of refugee aid varies widely, but many have automatic access to
financial aid and shelter.
In the UK, ‘if you are recognized as a refugee...
you will be entitled to the same social and economic rights as UK citizens’.
However, refugees arriving in Europe are constricted by the Dublin Regulation, which states that
asylum seekers must apply for asylum in the first country of arrival.
This is generally to prevent them from sending out multiple applications, and to ensure their
claim is dealt with quickly in one country at a time.
However, in August 2015, Germany lifted this restriction on their end, allowing in any
Syrian refugees.
While refugees may be temporarily stateless and helpless, the international community
has made it clear that they must be given legitimate opportunities to survive in the
face of persecution.
Although critics have voiced concerns that the incoming wave of migrants threatens their
country or way of life, there are few arguments to be made against assisting those who are
actively in danger.
In fact, some sources say that incoming refugees can have major, long-term, benefits in innovation
and business for host countries.
While there are some questions as to how European countries will deal with the flood of asylum
seekers, there is no question as to the validity of their rights.
We’ve talked about the rights of refugees, but what about the right to asylum?
How does that work?
Get the tidbits by watching this video.
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