A note for teachers This is Part 2/3 of the Ration Challenge Refugee series from Act for Peace. Please also be aware that many of the slides that follow and the teaching resources are framed towards students in Australia that have not experienced conflict or displacement. If there are children in your classes that have experienced this or have experienced trauma, please use your experience and knowledge to update the slides and resources as appropriate. The length of this presentation can vary dependant on the activities you decide to do, the videos you play and the question time given to the class. Please edit as you see fit to suit your lesson. After reading through, please delete the “A note for teachers” slides.
Contents 1. What does the future look like for refugees? • Voluntary Repatriation • Local Integration • Resettlement 2. Refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia • Resettlement • Offshore processing • Life as a refugee • Attitudes towards refugees and people seeking asylum
What does the future look like for refugee communities?
Durable Solutions Local integration- more than ½ of the world’s refugees are living in urban areas. Voluntary repatriation- The vast majority of refugees wish that they could return home. But according to the Refugee Convention, this must be voluntary. Refugees should not be forced to return before they feel safe to do so. Resettlement- refugees who are resettled do not get to choose which country they are moving to.
Discuss what each of these mean. How likely is it that a refugee will be able to take up each of the following solutions? What would be good/bad about it? Voluntary Repatriation Local Integration Resettlement
1. Voluntary Repatriation
Voluntary Repatriation Just like if you and I were forced to flee Australia, many refugees dream of going home. Voluntarily returning to your country of origin after having had to flee is called ‘voluntary repatriation’. What do you think needs to happen for this to be a solution for refugee communities?
2. Local Integration
Local Integration Many refugee communities around the world live year after year with little hope of ever returning home. Some cannot because their countries are engulfed by endless conflict or because they fear persecution if they were to return. In cases where repatriation is not an option, finding a home in the country of asylum and integrating into the local community could offer a durable solution to their plight and the chance to build a new life.
Developing countries protecting the majority of refugees The vast majority of refugees are residing in poorer countries neighbouring the conflict. Developing countries are doing the most for refugees, with 84% of refugees residing in in low- and middle-income countries and remaining close to situations of conflict.
3. Resettlement
Resettlement Many refugees cannot go home because of continued conflict, wars and persecution. Many also live in perilous situations or have specific needs that cannot be addressed in the country where they have sought protection. In such circumstances, they are helped to resettle to a third country. Resettlement is the transfer of refugees from an asylum country to another State that has agreed to admit them and ultimately grant them permanent settlement. Resettlement is unique in that it is the only durable solution that involves the relocation of refugees from an asylum country to a third country.
Watch of NSW Australian of the year: Deng Thiak Adut PLAY VIDEO
There were 25.4 million registered refugees of concern to around the world at the end of 2018 … but less than one per cent were resettled that year.
Australia 139,398 refugees have been recognised or resettled by Australia. This accounts for less than 1% per cent of the global total, with Australia ranked 26th overall.
In 2017-2018, Australia accepted less than 20,000 refugees
A note for teachers For more information on resettlement, please see the following two resources: 1. Resettlement in 2017: UNHCR Facts and Figures http://www.unhcr.org/en-au/5a9d507f7 2. Projected global resettlement needs 2018: http://www.unhcr.org/en-au/protection/resettlement/593a88f27/unhcr-projected-globa l-resettlement-needs-2018.html
What would you do?
The issue facing refugees • More than 68 million displaced people • Average time spent in a refugee camp before a durable solution is 17 years • Less than 150,000 people resettled every year • Low chances of being able to return home • Difficult conditions in refugee camps and host countries including a lack of education, healthcare, employment.
Asylum seeker Asylum seeker is someone who is seeking protection as a refugee. Their official claim has not yet been assessed, but under law, as soon as they have been forced to flee they meet the definition of a refugee. Once their claim has been assessed they are a ‘recognised refugee’.
Why are people seeking asylum and refugees in immigration detention in Australia?
People seeking asylum may arrive in Australia without a valid visa or other documentation for a number of reasons: -A person who is fleeing persecution by the government of their country of origin might not be able to obtain a passport from their country of origin -A person fleeing persecution might travel without documentation to avoid being identified as they leave their country of origin in order to reduce the risk to themselves and their family. People seeking asylum in Australia have often had to seek safety by boat.
What do you know about offshore processing?
In July 2013, the Rudd government announced that any asylum seekers arriving by boat would not be eligible to live in Australia. Instead, they would have their asylum claims processed in Nauru or Papua New Guinea.
Offshore processing The process in which Australia sends people seeking asylum who arrive by boat to either Nauru or on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where their refugee claims are determined. Australia is the only country in the world that uses other countries to process refugee claims.
Offshore processing - concerns The Refugee Council of Australia notes the following concerns to offshore processing: - It seeks to punish rather than protect those in need. - It seeks to transfer Australia’s responsibility to protect to poorer, less well-equipped countries. - It has led to prolonged and indefinite detention and enormous human suffering. - The conditions of detention are inhumane, with grossly inadequate health care and inhumane treatment. - The system exposes highly vulnerable people to further harm, with consistent reports of sexual, physical and psychological abuse. - It undermines democratic principles of transparency, accountability and the separation of powers. - It is extraordinarily expensive
A note for teachers For more information on offshore processing and great resources to use with students please see: 1. Refugee Council of Australia: Australia’s offshore processing regime: https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Offshore-processing-1605.pd f 2. Asylum Seeker Resource Centre: Mythbusters http://www.asrc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Mythbuster-Offshore-Processing-Resettl ement-Mythbuster-May-2014.pdf 3. The Salvation Army – Mythbusters https://salvos.org.au/scribe/sites/auesalvos/files/Mythbusters_-_Asylum_Seekers_and_Refugee s.pdf
Australia’s human rights obligations Australia has international obligations to protect the human rights of all asylum seekers and refugees who arrive in Australia, regardless of how or where they arrive and whether they arrive with or without a visa. The Australia government must ensure their human rights are protected under the: 1. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 2. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 3. The convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 4. The rights of the child As a party to the Refugee Convention, Australia has agreed to ensure that asylum seekers who meet the definition of a refugee are not sent back to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened. This is known as the principle of non-refoulement .
Do you think Australia fulfills its human rights obligations?
Attitudes towards refugees in Australia
A note for teachers The next video has swearing and language that may be unsuitable for some students. Please delete slide if necessary. If you would like to include an alternative video about the refugee crisis or attitudes towards refugees we recommend: 1. Missy Higgins: Oh Canada based on the image of ‘Aylan’ a Syrian refugee child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsFaI0YlWU0 2. Most shocking one second a day video: Save the Children UK’s take on war coming to the UK in the eyes of a child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBQ-IoHfimQ
Play video ‘Ration Challenge social experiment’
What do you think this video is trying to say?
Refugee Australian and slam poet Abe Nouk- ‘I am a poet’ PLAY VIDEO
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