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INFORMATION LEAFLET NO. 16 |
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This information leaflet is a result of the UNITED project "Integration of Refugees: Linking Good Practice Across Europe", that will be carried out during the year 2000. This publication also aims to provide some background information on migration issues, which can be used by NGO's for discussions, meetings, presentations, etc. The main objective of the project
has been to develop a more intensive cooperation in the refugee
field, among the members of the UNITED network and the anti-racist
movement in general. 1. Some background information When you ask refugees in Europe,
they will tell you that they have a hard time to integrate in
our society. The political discourse in Europe, the media and
many in the general public have been identifying refugees with
crime, poverty, fraud, scrounging and other nasty things. If
this is how we see People should have the right to choose a place to live. In history we can find examples of the need for migration as well as proof that it is possible for many different groups to live together in the same society. When people are granted equal rights and have the possibility to take responsibility for their future, they can always find a place of their own without taking the place of someone else. If we want to find examples, we just have to look at the history of Europe: Thousands and thousands of
Europeans went to other countries in the previous centuries fleeing
from very difficult living conditions such as famine and lack
of work. In the 19th century many thousands of people fled from
Germany and other European countries to the USA in order to escape
from poverty. In the 20th century millions of people fled from
Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Greece and Italy to countries of Northern
Europe, USA and Canada in order to find better living conditions.
During the fascist dictatorships in several European countries
(Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, etc.) and the Nazi-regime in
Germany thousands and thousands of people fled to seek a place
where they would not be persecuted because of their political
opinions, ethnicity,religion or sexual orientation. When we speak about Human Rights, we speak about two sets of rights. One set is made up of civil and political rights, such as the right to life and freedom of expression. The second set is made up of social rights, such as the right to have paid employment and a clean environment. Somehow, when deciding on the definition of a refugee, the second set seems to have been lost. If a refugee has suffered from an infringement of the first set of rights, states recognise the necessity to flee. An infringement of the second set seems not to be valid. This has nothing to do with the seriousness of specific human rights. Not having food will kill you just as thoroughly as being shot because of your religion. If we believe all human rights to be equal, then an infringement on each of them should count equally too. A refugee is a person who "owning
to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race,
religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group,
or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality,
and is unable to or, owning to such fear, is unwilling to avail
himself of the protection of that country." If we look at migration as a global phenomenon we can not accept all the official distinctions between refugees, asylum seekers, people under humanitarian protection, economic migrants, etc. The reasons that cause flight from the countries of origin are a mixture of social, economic and political facts. In the majority of cases it is just not possible to draw a line that separates clearly the reasons of each individual to flee. By trying to put into practice definitions which do not correspond to reality, governments are denying people something that as human beings all of us should always be entitled to: the right to choose a place to live. Everyone has the right to
freedom of movement All governments of countries
where refugees try to enter and settle look at migration as a
problem that they need to stop and prevent. In fact the reality
is much wider and very complex. We have to think globally in
order to have the complete "picture" and to understand
the migration flows of our world. 4. Are all reasons to flee valid? Where is the difference between
an asylum seeker who flees from economic destruction due to war,
to an asylum seeker who flees from a country where the economy
has been devastated because of political changes? The truth is
that in both cases we are speaking about a person who can not
find the necessary stability and consequently whose fundamental
rights have been violated. And where is the difference between
a person who knew the possibility of asking for asylum, and another
person fleeing for reasons that are just as valid, but who was
not aware of asylum rights and entered a certain country illegally?
So, who is a "refugee"?
Recently, a United Nations report predicted that Europe needs migration to keep up economic growth and a healthy demographic balance (Source: Migration News Sheet, Feb. 2000 - Pag. 14). In some cases companies have recognised that migrants and refugees have unique capabilities: they can deal with change, be flexible, have insight in cultural differences, etc. Such capabilities are actually very valuable in todays' fast-changing economy.
European countries, instead of building up a "fortress", must offer a place for all refugees as equal citizens. Otherwise it will not be possible to stop the deaths of refugees at our borders. Irrespective of all the barriers, laws and policies, people will always try to seek refuge. Instead of shutting borders, we need to find creative solutions to a global problem. We cannot speak about the positive contribution refugees bring if we are simply preventing them from living as equal citizens. Is it fair to complain about the economic costs of refugees if they are not given the opportunity to contribute to the host society? The numbers game Colonialism, Economic Exploitation,
War: "We are here because you were there" The trade of slaves that brought people in the most inhuman conditions, mainly from Africa to work in mines and on plantations, resulted in the death, uprooting and exploitation of millions of human beings. The colonisation of the "the South" by Europeans led to the massive murder of many different groups, destroying their cultures and their societies. Trading in colonial times has been a largely one-sided agreement, with Europe taking and taking, without giving much in return. Valuable goods and arts were stolen. Traditional forms of agriculture were replaced by huge properties where crops were decided according to the profit of the colonial owner and not according to the needs of local people. These massive mono-cultures have provoked many environmental problems. Responsibility Many of the regions corresponding to the former colonies of the European countries are still being exploited. All sorts of unfair treaties, agreements and economic trades between the so-called "developed" countries and the rest of the world do nothing to improve the economic situation. Particularly shocking is the selling of weapons by American and European enterprises, some owned or supported by "western" governments, to many different regions in the world. Western powers often conduct their diplomatic relations in accordance with the needs of economic profit and their political interests in a given region, not in accordance with local needs. In this manner we, in the "western" world, continue to be responsible for an increase of problems rather than for finding solutions. Migration to the "western world" is just one of the consequences of this situation...
These groups recognise the fact that some laws are clearly violating human rights (e.g. foreigner laws, citizenship laws, asylum laws...). They try to improve the living conditions of those who remain in Europe without documents. Many actions have been put into practice, such as the occupation of churches to demonstrate against deportations and the fight for "Papers for All", direct support to undocumented people (medical care, legal advice, etc.), demonstrations for the closure of detention centres, protests against the killings committed by the police while deporting refugees... Refugees, "illegals" and "legal" residents have combined their forces to fight for equal rights. Self-organised groups, composed
of those most affected by racism, have been organising protests
and actions. By doing so, they show their strength and creativity.
By taking charge of their own lives, they take away some of the
power of bureaucracy. These groups mainly fight detention and
deportation and demand equal rights, including the right to live
in Europe. They want to contribute to our society and demand
the chance to do so. This leaflet aims to be just
the beginning for deeper discussions on the need to integrate
refugees and to fight all forms of exclusion. Hopefully you will
be inspired by its contents and join the actions in support of
refugees that are taking place around Europe! UNITED
for Intercultural Action |
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