The refugee institution, created to save the lives of civilians in military conflicts, is causing more and more controversy in the modern world. Both political and public figures are trying to define the clearest criteria for granting asylum in order, on the one hand, to help potential victims of conflicts, and on the other, to take into account the possibilities of the host countries.
Instructions
Step 1
Refugees have existed since the beginning of military conflicts. Gradually, with the complication of bureaucratic procedures and the tightening of border controls, it became necessary to create a special status for people who are looking for salvation from persecution in another country. Even before World War II, some states of the world issued special visas to Jews who were threatened with being sent to concentration camps in Nazi Germany. However, there was no single system and international obligations on the refugee issue. It was only in the fifties that the UN adopted a convention on refugees, according to which a person who left his country due to persecution or danger of life and is recognized as a refugee cannot be returned to the country from which he fled.
Step 2
The current situation shows that refugee status is becoming an increasingly vague category. They become refugees not only for political, but also for economic and even climatic reasons. At the same time, developed countries are increasingly faced with a situation of illegal migration disguised as refugee - more and more people from developed countries, not being able to come to the desired country in any other way, get there illegally or on a tourist visa and apply for refugee status, even if they and there is no real danger at home.
Step 3
The fight against such migration is carried out by various methods. A number of countries are tightening the criteria for refugees - they need to provide more evidence that their lives were really in danger.
Other states, such as France, are trying to speed up the processing of refugee documents. The fact is that providing for those who fled from persecution most often falls on the shoulders of the country that accepts them. Therefore, a faster review of papers can help the state save money, and will also facilitate faster integration of real refugees.
The third way is to use buffer countries. For example, in 2013 Australia entered into an agreement with neighboring Papua New Guinea that all refugees who arrive in Australia will go there and seek asylum directly in New Guinea.
Step 4
Along with the problem of fake refugees, there is also the problem of an increase in the number of people who are really at risk in their countries. Therefore, to resolve the refugee problem, the UN is conducting peacekeeping measures, trying to normalize the situation in countries in which there are military conflicts. However, we can conclude that a real decrease in the number of refugees can only be expected with an increase in the standard of living in the poorest countries and with the departure of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes into the past.
