What does it mean to be a refugee? - Benedetta Berti and Evelien Borgman

Summary

Globally, around 60 million people are displaced due to war, violence, and persecution, with many becoming refugees. Defined by the UN's 1951 Convention, refugees are individuals outside their country of nationality, unable to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution. Half of the world's refugees are children, often facing vulnerability. Distinguished from economic migrants, refugees embark on perilous journeys, often to refugee camps, seeking asylum and facing challenges such as limited integration and discrimination.

Takeaways

• 🌍 There are approximately 60 million people worldwide who have been forced to leave their homes due to war, violence, and persecution.
• 🏠 The majority of these individuals become internally displaced persons, meaning they flee within their own countries.
• 🚸 Others cross borders to seek shelter in foreign countries and are referred to as refugees.
• 📜 The modern definition of a refugee was established by the UN's 1951 Convention, focusing on those unable to return home due to a well-founded fear of persecution.
• 🔍 Persecution can be based on race, religion, nationality, social group membership, or political opinion, often linked to war and violence.
• 👶 Today, about half of the world's refugees are children, some of whom are unaccompanied and particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
• 🚫 The terms 'migrant' and 'refugee' are distinct; migrants leave their countries for reasons other than persecution, such as economic opportunities or environmental conditions.
• 🛂 Refugee journeys are often fraught with danger and uncertainty, with limited access to basic necessities and the need to navigate complex legal obstacles.
• 🏞️ Refugee camps, intended as temporary solutions, can become long-term homes for many due to limited resettlement and integration opportunities.
• 📝 Upon reaching a new country, displaced persons must apply for asylum, becoming asylum seekers until their refugee status is officially recognized.
• 🏡 Host countries have duties towards recognized refugees, including non-discrimination and the principle of non-refoulement, yet refugees often face inconsistent treatment and challenges.

Q & A

How many people are estimated to have been forced to leave their homes worldwide?

Approximately 60 million people have been forced to leave their homes.

What is the difference between internally displaced persons and refugees?

Internally displaced persons have fled their homes but remain within their own countries, while refugees have crossed a border and sought shelter outside of their own countries.

What does the term 'refugee' mean according to the UN's 1951 Convention?

A refugee is someone who is outside their country of nationality and is unable to return due to well-founded fears of being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, social group membership, or political opinion.

Why are children among refugees particularly vulnerable?

Children, especially those unaccompanied by an adult, are more vulnerable to child labor or sexual exploitation due to their situation.

What is the difference between a 'migrant' and a 'refugee' as per the script?

Migrants usually leave their country for reasons not related to persecution, such as seeking better economic opportunities or escaping drought-stricken areas, whereas refugees flee conflict and violence.

What challenges do refugees face during their journeys to safety?

Refugees face challenges such as limited access to shelter, water, or food, and often lack the required documents to travel legally, which may force them to rely on smugglers to cross borders.

Why are belongings often left behind during a refugee's departure?

Belongings might be left behind because the departure can be sudden and unexpected, and people evading conflict often do not have time to gather their possessions.

What is the purpose of refugee camps and who typically runs them?

Refugee camps are intended to be temporary structures offering short-term shelter, usually run by the United Nations Refugee Agency or local governments.

What is the legal status of a displaced person when they first arrive in a new country?

Upon arrival in a new country, a displaced person must apply for asylum and is considered an asylum seeker until their application is accepted and they are officially recognized as a refugee.

What is the principle of non-refoulement, and why is it important for refugees?

Non-refoulement is the principle preventing a nation from sending an individual to a country where their life and freedom are threatened. It is important for refugees as it ensures they are not returned to situations of danger.

What are some of the challenges refugees face in their new host countries?

Refugees often face challenges such as inconsistent and discriminatory treatment, xenophobia, racism, limited access to the workforce, and a lack of education funding for their children.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Global Refugee Crisis

The script discusses the plight of approximately 60 million people worldwide who have been forced to leave their homes due to war, violence, and persecution. It explains the distinction between internally displaced persons and refugees, with the latter being individuals who have crossed international borders seeking safety. The script outlines the historical context of the term 'refugee' as defined by the UN's 1951 Convention, which was a response to the mass displacements during World War II. It highlights the vulnerability of children among refugees, who may face child labor or sexual exploitation. The narrative also clarifies the difference between refugees and migrants, with the latter often moving for economic opportunities rather than fleeing persecution. The script details the challenges faced by refugees during their journeys, including the lack of legal documentation and the reliance on smugglers to cross borders. It also touches on the temporary nature of refugee camps, which often become long-term homes due to limited resettlement options. The process of seeking asylum and the responsibilities of host countries towards refugees are also discussed, including the principle of non-refoulement. The script concludes by noting the inconsistent and discriminatory treatment refugees often face, including barriers to employment and education.

05:01

👵 Historical Connection to Displacement

This paragraph encourages viewers to reflect on their own family histories, suggesting that at some point, their ancestors may have also been displaced due to war, discrimination, or persecution. It serves as a reminder to empathize with current refugees, drawing a parallel between past and present experiences of displacement. The script implies that understanding our own familial connections to such experiences can foster compassion and a sense of shared humanity with those seeking refuge today.

Keywords

💡Refugee

A refugee is defined by the UN's 1951 Convention as someone who has been forced to flee their country because of a well-founded fear of persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion. This definition is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for understanding the plight of individuals who are displaced by conflict and violence. The script mentions that today, roughly half of the world's refugees are children, highlighting the vulnerability of this population.

💡Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Internally displaced persons are individuals who have been forced to flee their homes but remain within their own country's borders. This concept is important in the video as it differentiates between those who are displaced within their own country and those who cross borders to become refugees. The script points out that the majority of displaced people are IDPs, indicating the scale of internal displacement as a global issue.

💡Persecution

Persecution refers to the treatment of an individual or group in a way that subjects them to severe suffering or harm, often due to their race, religion, nationality, or political opinion. In the context of the video, persecution is a key reason why individuals become refugees, as they are forced to leave their homes to escape such treatment. The script emphasizes that persecution is often related to war and violence, which are the driving forces behind displacement.

💡Asylum Seeker

An asylum seeker is a person who has left their home country and is seeking international protection from another country. The term is relevant to the video's narrative as it describes the legal status of a person who has applied for asylum but has not yet been officially recognized as a refugee. The script explains that asylum seekers are not officially refugees until their application is accepted, highlighting the legal process and the uncertainty faced by displaced individuals.

💡Non-refoulement

Non-refoulement is a principle of international law that prohibits a country from sending individuals back to a place where they would be in danger of persecution or torture. This concept is crucial in the video as it underscores the legal obligation of host countries towards refugees. The script mentions non-refoulement as a basic obligation, illustrating the video's focus on the rights and protections that should be afforded to refugees.

💡Refugee Camp

A refugee camp is a temporary shelter, often set up by international organizations like the United Nations Refugee Agency, for people who have been forced to flee their homes. The video discusses refugee camps as a first stop for many fleeing conflict, emphasizing their intended temporary nature and the challenges faced when they become long-term residences for some refugees.

💡Migrant

A migrant is someone who moves from one place to another, typically for reasons other than persecution, such as seeking better economic opportunities or escaping natural disasters. The video script clarifies the distinction between migrants and refugees, highlighting that while both groups are displaced, the term 'refugee' is reserved for those fleeing conflict and violence.

💡Xenophobia

Xenophobia refers to the fear or dislike of people from other countries or cultures. In the video, xenophobia is mentioned as one of the challenges refugees face in their host countries, where they may experience discrimination and prejudice. This term is important as it reflects the social attitudes that can complicate the integration of refugees into new societies.

💡Humanitarian Aid

Humanitarian aid consists of assistance provided to individuals or groups in need, often in the form of food, shelter, or medical care. The video script mentions that refugees are often fully dependent on humanitarian aid, indicating the critical role of such support in their survival and well-being.

💡Resettlement

Resettlement is the process by which refugees are permanently relocated to a third country that has agreed to protect them and grant them residence. The video discusses resettlement as one of the options for refugees, but notes that such opportunities are often limited, which can result in refugees remaining in camps or host countries for extended periods.

💡Child Labor

Child labor refers to the employment of children in work that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful and hinders their childhood development. The video script points out that refugee children are particularly vulnerable to child labor and sexual exploitation, emphasizing the need for protection and support for this vulnerable group.

Highlights

Approximately 60 million people globally have been forced to leave their homes due to war, violence, and persecution.

Most of these individuals are internally displaced persons, still within their own countries.

Others have crossed borders to seek shelter outside their own countries and are referred to as refugees.

The modern definition of a refugee was established in the UN's 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees.

A refugee is defined as someone outside their country of nationality, unable to return due to well-founded fears of persecution.

Persecution can be due to race, religion, nationality, social group membership, or political opinion.

Currently, about half of the world's refugees are children, some unaccompanied and vulnerable to exploitation.

Refugees often undertake dangerous journeys with uncertain outcomes.

The term 'migrant' refers to people leaving their country for reasons unrelated to persecution, such as economic opportunities.

International law recognizes only those fleeing conflict and violence as refugees.

Most refugee journeys involve long and perilous travels with limited access to basic necessities.

Refugees often leave without proper documents, making legal travel difficult.

Financial and political factors can prevent refugees from using standard travel routes.

Some refugees entrust their lives to smugglers to cross borders.

Refugee camps, often run by the UN or local governments, are intended to be temporary structures.

Resettlement and long-term integration options for refugees are often limited, leading to extended stays in camps.

In a new country, the first legal step for a displaced person is to apply for asylum as an asylum seeker.

Host countries have duties towards recognized refugees, including a guarantee of non-discrimination and minimum standard of treatment.

The principle of non-refoulement prevents nations from sending individuals to countries where their life and freedom are threatened.

Refugees often face inconsistent and discriminatory treatment, xenophobia, and racism.

Many refugee children are out of school due to lack of funding for education programs.

Reflecting on our family histories can remind us of the stories of displacement and the search for a new home.

Transcripts

Around the globe,

there are approximately 60 million people who have been forced to leave their homes

to escape war, violence, and persecution.

The majority of them have become internally displaced persons,

which means they have fled their homes but are still within their own countries.

Others have crossed a border and sought shelter outside of their own countries.

They are commonly referred to as refugees.

But what exactly does that term mean?

The world has known refugees for millennia,

but the modern definition was drafted in the UN's 1951 Convention

relating to the status of refugees

in response to mass persecutions and displacements of the Second World War.

It defines a refugee as someone who is outside their country of nationality,

and is unable to return to their home country

because of well-founded fears of being persecuted.

That persecution may be due to their race, religion, nationality,

membership in a particular social group, or political opinion,

and is often related to war and violence.

Today, roughly half the world's refugees are children,

some of them unaccompanied by an adult,

a situation that makes them especially vulnerable to child labor

or sexual exploitation.

Each refugee's story is different,

and many must undergo dangerous journeys with uncertain outcomes.

But before we get to what their journeys involve,

let's clear one thing up.

There's a lot of confusion regarding the difference between the terms

"migrant" and "refugee."

"Migrants" usually refers to people who leave their country

for reasons not related to persecution,

such as searching for better economic opportunities

or leaving drought-stricken areas in search of better circumstances.

There are many people around the world who have been displaced

because of natural disasters,

food insecurities,

and other hardships,

but international law, rightly or wrongly,

only recognizes those fleeing conflict and violence as refugees.

So what happens when someone flees their country?

Most refugee journeys are long and perilous

with limited access to shelter, water, or food.

Since the departure can be sudden and unexpected,

belongings might be left behind,

and people who are evading conflict often do not have the required documents,

like visas, to board airplanes and legally enter other countries.

Financial and political factors can also prevent them from traveling

by standard routes.

This means they can usually only travel by land or sea,

and may need to entrust their lives to smugglers

to help them cross borders.

Whereas some people seek safety with their families,

others attempt passage alone and leave their loved ones behind

with the hopes of being reunited later.

This separation can be traumatic and unbearably long.

While more than half the world's refugees are in cities,

sometimes the first stop for a person fleeing conflict is a refugee camp,

usually run by the United Nations Refugee Agency or local governments.

Refugee camps are intended to be temporary structures,

offering short-term shelter until inhabitants can safely return home,

be integrated to the host country,

or resettle in another country.

But resettlement and long-term integration options are often limited.

So many refugees are left with no choice but to remain in camps for years

and sometimes even decades.

Once in a new country, the first legal step for a displaced person

is to apply for asylum.

At this point, they are an asylum seeker

and not officially recognized as a refugee until the application has been accepted.

While countries by and large agree on one definition of refugee,

every host country is responsible for examining all requests for asylum

and deciding whether applicants can be granted the status of refugee.

Different countries guidelines can vary substantially.

Host countries have several duties

towards people they have recognized as refugees,

like the guarantee of a minimum standard of treatment and non-discrimination.

The most basic obligation towards refugees is non-refoulement,

a principle preventing a nation from sending an individual

to a country where their life and freedom are threatened.

In reality, however, refugees are frequently the victims

of inconsistent and discriminatory treatment.

They're increasingly obliged to rebuild their lives in the face of xenophobia

and racism.

And all too often, they aren't permitted to enter the work force

and are fully dependent on humanitarian aid.

In addition, far too many refugee children are out of school

due to lack of funding for education programs.

If you go back in your own family history,

chances are you will discover that at a certain point,

your ancestors were forced from their homes,

either escaping a war or fleeing discrimination and persecution.

It would be good of us to remember their stories

when we hear of refugees currently displaced,

searching for a new home.