...ASYLUMS SEEKERS AND REFUGEES “Like many members of the Hazara minority in Afghanistan, Chaman Sha Nasiri fled his homeland to escape persecution. At the time, the Taliban had been hunting for young men to either recruit or kill. Chaman then spent three years in the Nauru processing centre. It was a time of uncertainty, and as with many other asylum seekers, he became increasingly anxious and desperate” 1 Chama’s Story is just one of many for asylum seekers who seek refuge here in Australia. They come to our country expecting safety and freedom alongside the most basic human right. Yet when they arrive they are imprisoned and treated as criminals. It is clear that the laws surrounding this issue are in dire need of change. Australia is a country well known for its diversity of beliefs and religions, it is said to be accepting of others, however, when the topic of asylum seekers is brought forth, the government and media portrays the need for border protection, and “stopping the boats”. This type of hostile political enforcement and negative media coverage only furthers the portrayal of refugees as something fear, in the mind of most Australians. However, although it is not widely broadcasted by the Government or media, Australia has a legal obligation to help asylum seekers under the United Nations Refugee Convention 1951, to which Australia is signatory. According to the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, amended by the 1967 Protocol (the...
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...Australia should accept asylum seekers. Discuss. Introduction: In recent years, the asylum seeker issue has been an increasing interest in Australia with many opposed opinions that led a much debated question is whether Australia should accept the asylum seekers or not. In this essay, I attempt to defend the view that the asylum seekers should be accepted into Australia because of the following reasons. Body: Firstly, Australia is one of the many countries that signed the 1951 Refugee Convention. It states that if people are found to be escaping persecution, they are to be allowed into the country. In order to comply with its responsibilities, Australia must increase its intake / start accepting refugees. A second incentive is Australia has the means to accommodate large numbers of people. As sung in the Australian National Anthem, Australia has “boundless plains to share” with “those who’ve come across the seas”. By accepting and welcoming people from around the world, all walks of life Australia will become a stronger and richer nation. By not allowing asylum seekers to integrate in Australian society, we are missing out on the opportunities to build our country. Finally, the financial. While some would argue that Australia should not accept asylum seekers because it is a huge financial burden. Australia current method of dealing with asylum seekers in offshore detention centres is far more expensive that the costs of educating and integrating these people. Although there...
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...individuals trying to enter Australia to seek asylum. To help comprehend the complex phenomenon of “others”, it is comparable to stereotyping, used to uphold social order. Richard Dyer (Hall, Evans & Nixon 2013) debates that “we represent people and places that are different from us with a representational practice, which we call stereotyping, which involves feelings, attitudes and emotions, and it also provokes fears and anxieties”. This ‘othering’ is a preface for the Australian Government to disregard their human rights responsibility, proclaiming that it is good for Australia. “Stop the boats” is the slogan and catchphrase the Australian Government and Australian society use when discussion of and around asylum seekers issues. This has triggered asylum seekers to be seen as a political concern instead of a humanitarian issue. Asylum seekers are used for political advance, playing on racial stereotypes or ‘others’ to strike fear within the Australian society. As the political concerns rage on, the public restrain understanding and compassion for asylum seekers. With...
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...The theme I choose is about australia housing asylum seeker. An asylum seeker is someone who left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum, or safety, in another country. I choose this theme as I found it to be interesting seeing as I personally don't think about immigration outside of the united states. To become a refugee in another country you must first become an asylum seeker or someone whose refugee status has not been determined. People seeking asylum in australia typically arrive by boat or plane. Most of the refugees come from afghanistan. Many afghan men and women and people from other places all over the world come to these australian community detentions to escape the conditions of their home land. In the...
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...“…The right of persons to seek asylum from persecution” (UNHCR; 1967) is recognised by the United Nations Convention. Asylum seekers are known as persons who have fled their own country seeking protecting in fear for their life. Consequently, such persons often illegally arrive and enter countries such as Australia without valid visas. However, as part of the Human Rights signatory, Australia owes an international obligation towards all refugees and asylum seekers to “protect [their] human rights…” (Human Rights Commission (HRC)) as long as they are in Australian territory. Nevertheless, it has been continuously reported by the United Nations that Australia, through its detainment and treatment of refugees in detention centres, has penalised...
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...At times, it is certain that the majority of refugees seeking the ability to enter our nation are not only treated unfairly, but unethically with some of their most basic human rights being abused. With the significant growth of asylum seekers, it is important that the Australian Government does not overlook this issue, but instead reviews its policies in order to correctly align with the fundamental principles of family unity and refugee protection as stated by the United Nations (UN). Therefore, it must be recognized that many refugees are often mere victims of an underlying system beyond their control and only when governments begin to realise this, will the issue begin to subside. The United Nations (UN) was formed in 1945 shortly after...
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...Australia’s history is striking in that immigration, in a myriad of forms, essentially gave life to the nation as it is today. Australia has long been considered a prime location for asylum seekers, with it’s stable governance, high quality of life and already established immigrant communities, it is easy to see why individuals seeking asylum from religious or ethnic persecution, conflict or despotism choose Australia to lodge their claims. Be it Europeans escaping Soviet expansion post World War 2 or South Vietnamese allies fleeing Vietnam following the fall of Saigon in 1975, the development of Australia’s history and culture is inseparably linked to these Asylum seekers who come “across the sea” to our boundless plains. Australia continues to receive asylum seekers in the 21st century however there has been an apparent shift in the nations psyche towards these asylum seekers. A moral panic is defined as a disproportionate response to a perceived threat by one group towards another. Is the reaction to Asylum seekers in Australia an example of moral panic?...
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...The UN is greatly against your government’s treatment over the refugees, finding it a direct violation of the convention of the United Nation document. While also judging a number of aspects regarding the degrading tradement. The UN has made an effort to point out that your act of not wanting the refugees to retreat to our country, is a direct violation of your states responsibility, which your government signed. It’s commonly associated that the Australian government fails to understand the international rules. Where there are any person founded of dear or if anyone who is retreating to find protection from their country. To where you directly challenge this document by having your policy ‘offshore processing’. Where you are holding asylum seekers in what ultimately are detention centers. That ultimately determine if refugees are given the freedom to go for a walk. This is extremely unjust and this only discourages refugees to come to australia, which they are allowed. This is because they are fleeing from a country that is no longer safe, and as the document that your government signed, grants them this freedom, which the UN pointed out....
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...ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND LEGAL AID FOR REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS; WHAT CAN THE JUDICIARY DO? Introduction Asylum seekers, regardless of their immigration status, are human beings, with fundamental and basic rights, needs and aspirations. Refugees and asylum seekers are a diverse group with one thing in common; they are subject to forced migration, and are fleeing from persecution in their countries of origin. A refugee is defined as any person who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality or political opinion, is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or owing to such fear for reasons other than personal convenience is unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country. Refugee status is therefore adopted for those who, having applied for asylum, have been recognized and given refugee status. It also usually encompasses those who have received ‘exceptional leave to remain’ or ‘indefinite leave to remain’. Recognition of refugee status is also a pre-requisite for other basic rights guaranteed to refugees by international law, such as the right to seek employment, to move freely and to obtain education and healthcare on the same terms as citizens. The status of an Asylum Seeker is reserved for those who have applied for asylum and are awaiting a decision on their applications and those whose applications have been refused. Refugees therefore need legal assistance as soon as they arrive in...
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...Australia has a legal obligation towards asylum seekers and refugees. Australia has a legal obligation towards Asylum Seekers and Refugees as it is a signatory to the UN Human Rights and Refugee Conventions. Furthermore, Australia has a moral obligation based on its membership of the world community. “Australia is one of the 146 signatory countries to the United Nations 1951 Convention and or/ 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees”. (Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, 2009) According to Australian Human Rights Commission an asylum seeker is someone who has fled their country and applies to the government of another country for protection as a refugee, (Australian Human Rights Commision, 2012) whereas a person is a refugee the moment he or she fulfils the criteria of the convention. As part of signatory countries to the United Nations 1951 Convention they are “obliged to act according to their efforts to allow everyone to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. This right may not be invoked in the case persecutions genuinely arising from non- political crimes or acts of contrary to the purposes and Principles on the United Nations”. (United Nations, 2011) This means that Australia has committed to respect the rights of refugees and to uphold the obligations set out in the treaty. This is in contradiction to the Migration Act 1958, which states, “Australian law requires that asylum seekers who have not been successful in their claims for refugee...
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...sovereign states still have the autonomy to enact policies towards refugees and asylum seekers in ways that will benefit them. In examining refugee policies, the overarching concern for countries is to “minimize the costs and maximize benefits for to themselves and their citizens. Policies are formulated so as to minimize the burden of refugees on social and economic infrastructures and encourage refuges to gain access to international refugee support systems” (Jacobsen, 1999). The lack of social rights leads many asylum seekers to engage in illicit behaviors. Asylum seekers who are able to leave their premises will obtain illegal jobs that pay under the table in order to make ends meet for...
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...The Australian legal system is ineffective in the preservation and enforcement of the right to speak freely in regards to the protection of asylum seekers. The Australian legal system has failed to protect this right let alone go too far. This is evident because of one main issue; sexual abuse within detention centres. However, the true issue of why legislation is ineffective is because of social attitudes. The Australian Border Force Act, 2015 came into effect on the 1st of July. The government upholds their commitment to transparency within government agencies. Thus, Part 6 (Secrecy and disclosure provisions) of the act outlines that: “An entrusted person must not make a record of or disclose protected information unless the making of the...
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...INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS’ ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN TURKEY Intro- question The contemporary international order is based on the nation-state system which was founded in the 17th century with the Treaty of Westphalia and consolidated in the 20th century after the World War I. In this system, the state is responsible for the well-being of its unified citizens, whereas the citizens perform their certain duties such as paying taxes. After the World War II, welfare systems were initiated mostly in Western countries in different types and scales. However, a welfare system that targets its citizens and is financed by the levied taxes goes through a crisis when foreigners cross the borders and need basic services. Those migrants can be asylum seekers who escape from political conflicts in their homeland or economic migrants who search for a better living. Those migrants who enter the country from an illegal way or whose residence permits expire become undocumented/unregistered/illegal. At this stage, they cannot benefit from health services except the emergency health services, cannot work in good standards,...
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...threats to their lives. But there is no reason why the Australian government should be obliged to welcome asylum seekers who use illegal methods to come here. We have the responsibility to protect our borders and way of life against what could amount to a huge arrival of immigrants whose backgrounds and possible criminal status are unknown.Australia shouldn’t accept the refugees as they are over populating the country and if we do more and more will come. People believe that asylum seekers deserve a fair go just like everyone else, but why should they if they are receiving everything off tax payers money. With the ever increasing number of refugees entering our country, many Australians are struggling to sustain what they once had. Many Australians were already struggling before the arrival of the refugees, and are only suffering more. Most Australians don’t earn or own substantial amounts of money and with the arrival of the asylum seekers it just puts more strain on them. Many people are now loosing their jobs and houses as they can no longer pay their mortgages, bills and purchase everyday needs as the government believes it is better to support the arrival of asylum seekers. Many Australians are in need of public housing and extra cash and the government seems to be failing its own people and giving it all away to the asylum seekers awaiting processing. The asylum seekers are given free clothing, housing, money, discounts, schooling, medical attention and seem to be getting...
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...Introduction: The issue in the topic “NO CHILD'S PLAY: CHILDREN IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION” is about the asylum seekers including all non-citizens and children who seek entrance to Australia without a legal visa. They are often refugees from extremely poor and dangerous circumstances. Many of them are detained in detention until their claims are legally processed (Australian Catholic University, 2015, 4.1.2). This issue directly affects the child rights as well as the Common Good for children. Common good is the good and well-being of each individuals. Common good holds that as a social being, human truly flourish in the community. Common good means the fulfillment of the every aspects that helps to reach ultimate can good for every individuals....
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