Refugee footprint |
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“Hysteria and hypocrisy walk in the footsteps of refugees and migrants. The paranoia of wealthy countries is deeply ironic. Their carbon intensive lifestyles are driving global warming, which is likely to become the largest single factor forcing people to flee their homes around the world.”
Andrew Simms, Policy Director, New Economics Foundation.
Millions leave their footprints behind
Every day across the world people make the difficult decision to leave their home, families’, possessions and connections with their local community and walk away to an uncertain and often frightening future elsewhere.
Refugees leave their homes and their country because they have no other choice. They are forced out by factors such as war, persecution, natural disasters, environmental crises and poverty. They may also leave because their government will not or cannot protect them from serious human rights abuses or meet their needs. Whatever the reason, refugees leave their homes because they fear for their own life or safety, or that of their family.
Many refugees leave their homes suddenly and are able to take very few if any of their possessions with them. Sometimes they face many days of travel, with little food and in fear of their lives. If they do get to safety, they then rely on the people living in the area they have fled to; these people often have few resources to share and may not welcome the new arrivals.
The United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees came into force as long ago as 1951.
Initially the Convention was used to protect European refugees after World War II, but in 1967 the Convention was expanded as the problem of displaced people spread around the world.
The Convention lays down basic minimum standards for the treatment of refugees. Article 1 of the Convention also defines a refugee as, “A person who is outside his or her country of nationality…; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to… return there for fear of persecution”.
The Convention goes on to outline a refugee’s rights including such things as freedom of religion and movement, the right to work, education and travel documents. It makes clear that refugees should not be returned to a country where they fear persecution. In return refugees are expected to respect the laws and regulations of the country they stay in.
Initially the Convention was used to protect European refugees after World War II, but in 1967 the Convention was expanded as the problem of displaced people spread around the world.
The Convention lays down basic minimum standards for the treatment of refugees. Article 1 of the Convention also defines a refugee as, “A person who is outside his or her country of nationality…; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to… return there for fear of persecution”.
The Convention goes on to outline a refugee’s rights including such things as freedom of religion and movement, the right to work, education and travel documents. It makes clear that refugees should not be returned to a country where they fear persecution. In return refugees are expected to respect the laws and regulations of the country they stay in.
Printer Friendly Refugees section Include all menu sections:Environmental refugees, Economic migrants, Where do they go? Human rights, Refugee Footprint, Put your foot down & Glossary
Download the Refugees Leaflet Includes activities, resources, case studies, and websites
