The world’s system of protecting refugees is broken. From Australia’s crowded camps to South Sudan’s vast refugee camps to Europe’s barbed wire fences, it is clear that most rich countries still treat asylum seekers as someone else’s problem. They ignore their legal obligations to protect refugee rights, often sending them back to dangerous situations and refusing to provide adequate support for refugees in host countries. This destabilization and commodification of refugees undermines the integrity of the international system, jeopardizing the lives of millions of people, including children.
In many cases, it is not war or conflict that drives mass displacement but poverty, hunger, environmental degradation and persecution based on sexual orientation, race or gender. As a result, large numbers of people can become refugees even after their conflicts have ended, creating ongoing refugee crises.
The only solution is to expand access to third-country solutions and invest in the protection of refugees. We call on wealthy states to abide by the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people back to countries where they would face danger or persecution. We also advocate for local integration, a process whereby refugees are welcomed into their new communities and able to work and start over. This is an option that can give refugee families a dignified future and break the cycle of internal displacement. It is an alternative that can also strengthen the relationship between host states and refugees, reducing tensions and improving state security.
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