Global Refugee Crisis Review Monday – October 22, 2018

Question #1 What caused the international community to meet at the 1951 UN Refugee Convention? What was the core principal of the convention?

1951 UN Refugee Convention 1951 – diplomatic conference in Geneva adopted the Refugee Convention in response to the humanitarian crisis following both WWI and WWII. Signed by 145 countries. 1967 Protocol expanded time and geographic limits of 1951 agreement. Core principle – non-refoulement asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.

Question #2 According to the UN Refugee Convention, what is a refugee?

What is a refugee? The UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) defines refugees as ‘persons fleeing armed conflict or persecution’. Refugees are recognized and protected under international law, since returning to their home countries would directly endanger their lives.

Question #3 List at least 8 rights that are provided to refugees and recognized by international law.

What rights do refugees have under the 1951 Convention? non-refoulement The right not to be punished for illegal entry into the territory of a contracting State. The right to work housing Education public relief and assistance freedom of religion Access courts Freedom of movement with the territory Issued identity and travel documents.

Question #4 What’s the difference between a migrant and a refugee?

What’s the difference between a refugee and a migrant? Reasons for leaving your home country. Migrant Refugee -employment -family reunification -education -enjoys protection of his or her own government even when abroad. -threat of persecution -threat to life -lack of protection from home country

Question #5 What are three examples of how people can be excluded from refugee protection?

Can someone be excluded from refugee protection? Persons excluded from refugee protection include: 1. “Climate refugees” 2. Internally Displaced Persons 3. Persons for whom there are serious reasons to suspect that they have committed a crime against peace a war crime, a crime against humanity or a serious non- political crime.

Question #6 What is an IDP?

Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Persons forcibly relocated within their own country. Many are fleeing for the same reasons, but because they remain in their home countries they lack refugee status.

Question #7 Which three countries have been the primary landing spots for refugees/migrants attempting to enter the EU?

Background information on European Crisis 1.8 million refugees have arrived in Europe since 2014, more than 1 million of them in 2015 alone. Primary landing spots have included Italy, Greece and recently Spain. Germany, Sweden and the U.K. are some of the top destinations.

Question #8 What are most of these people fleeing from? List five of the top ten countries of origin.

What are they fleeing from? 1. Syrian Civil War 2. Libya - Political power struggle 3. Afghanistan - Over four decades of war in Afghanistan 4. Iraq – ISIS and other armed conflict 5. Somalia - Al-Shabaab (Islamist extremist group) 6. South Sudan 7. Sudan 8. Democratic Republic of Congo 9. Central African Republic ***All areas devastated by armed conflict

Question #9 What are the primary routes taken by those attempting to enter the EU? Be specific.

How are they getting there? By Sea – Mediterranean and Aegean Sea By land – From Turkey through the Balkans

Question #10 What has the response been by the EU to the refugee crisis?

EU Response to Crisis The European Union’s response has varied from country to country. Hungary, Slovenia, Austria and Macedonia tightened their borders. Rise in right-wing, populist movements (anti-refugee). Germany and Sweden accepted a higher percentage of refugees per capita than other European countries.

Question #11 What was the goal of the EU when they made a deal with Turkey?

EU makes agreement with Turkey EU attempted to decrease the flow of refugees when it struck a deal with Turkey. Anyone (refugee or migrant) that tried to cross from Turkey to Greece outside of proper channels would be sent back. For every Syrian sent back to Turkey, the EU would accept one legal refugee.

Question #12 What else has the EU done to slow down the amount of asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas?

2017 - EU takes aim at the central Mediterranean route The EU provided monetary assistance to strengthen cooperation and support for transit countries like Turkey and Libya. These deals and border closures have helped cause dramatic declines in the overall flow of refugees and migrants to Europe by sea. Arrivals have fallen by nearly 85 percent.

Challenges that remain Finding ways to lower the number of displaced people worldwide, by preventing and solving the driving conflicts of this crisis. Continuing to resettle and process asylum seekers while maintaining national security and sovereignty. Addressing the challenge of “climate refugees” in addition to those fleeing violence.

What is a “climate refugee”? Question #13 What is a “climate refugee”?

Question #14 According to the recent U.N. report from climate scientists, what are three things that humans must change drastically to reduce global warming?

Question #15 What are the three most vulnerable regions of the world to climate related disasters? Bonus: Include specific examples from each region.

Question #16