Global Population Challenges - Term Paper Example

Asylum Seekers Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code: Date of Submission: Introduction Every person world over has the right according to the United Nations conventions to live under secure place from any kind of torture or harassment. This therefore allows people to even cross borders and move to those countries that they think are saver grounds. This is after it had emerged that many world countries have gone into war either internally or with their neighbors thus subjecting much of the population into a lot of suffering where they cannot afford even basic life needs such as food, shelter, clothing and even medical Dutton 2002). What this means to many of the affected people is to force their way out and cross borders to those other countries where they consider are safer grounds to live in before returning home. The challenge however, has been on the management of the movement of these people commonly known as asylum seekers after it had been noted that such illegal activities as human smuggling and trafficking are incorporated to asylum seekers. The purpose of this article is to try to understand the term ‘asylum seekers’ and the global trends with regard to the movement of the asylum seekers and the discussion of the crossed approach to asylum seekers. Definition of ‘Asylum Seekers’ The term asylum-seeker is used to refer to someone that who is considered as a refugee but still yet to be evaluated to ascertain his claim. The asylum-seeker is characterized by the fact that he someone who crosses the border to the neighboring countries for security and other humanitarian support following instability in the home country. The national asylum systems as established by different countries as aimed at facilitating the process of qualifying one as asylum-seeker for appropriate international protection. In the process, those people who are found not to qualify as asylum-seekers are returned home. Those who qualify as asylum seekers stand a chance of being given any necessary support from the host country and the United Nations. Current trends and movements of asylum seekers Since 2008 the world has been recording an average of 370,000 applications of asylum-seekers each year in 44 selected world countries. However, in the year 2011, the number of asylum applications increased to 441,300 in the same selected 44 countries representing 20% increase from the previous years. The 2011 level was the highest since 2003 when the country recorded 505,000 asylum applications. However, these applications tended to be more in those countries that are highly industrialized. For instance out of the 441,300 applications made in 2011, 321,200 of them were made to 38 European countries as opposed those recorded in 2011 when asylum applications in the European countries were 274,700 thus showing a 19% increase (UNHCR 2011). Further, the applications for asylums also varied regionally with the members of the European Union receiving the highest number of applications while such countries as Rep. of Korea and Japan recording the lowest applications among the 44 world countries commonly known to receive asylum applications. The increase in the number of asylum applications recorded in 2011 has been characterized and motivated with the rapid increase in the refugee status in many countries of the world which have experienced some serious conflicts and turmoil. Among the affected countries and that have contributed greatly to the increase in the number of people seeking asylum status include Afghanistan, Syrian Arabia Republic, Libya, Cote d’Ivore and Tunisia as well as Egypt (UNHCR 2011). While comparing the 44 industrialized countries with regard to the shares of asylum launched claims, it is important to note that even though the number of the of world total asylum applications have continued to increase, the reverse is true with the case of these countries (Department of Immigration and Citizenship 2011). The decline in the number of asylum applications received in industrialized countries had started declining since 2007. For while in 2007 the cases involving asylum applications in the industrialized comprised 65% of the total world applications, in 2011 only 50% of these applications were recorded in these countries. These changes in the number of applications is associated with the declining value that potential asylums attach to those countries they consider possible destinations. The asylum cases in major ten world destinations such as the united states, france, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, united kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and turkey show varying preference. The table below shows the asylum preferences for these ten countries for 2010 and 2011 comparatively. Table1: Asylum applications for different countries in 2010 and 2011 Country 2010 Asylum applications 2011 Asylum applications United states 55,000 74,000 France 49,000 52,000 Germany 42,000 46,000 Italy 10,000 33,000 Sweden 32,000 30,000 Belgium 22,000 26,000 United kingdom 23,000 26,000 Canada 24,000 27,000 Switzerland 14,000 14,900 Turkey 9,000 17,000 Source: UNHSCR report on asylum applications, 2011 Despite keeping almost constant figures for asylum applications for 2010 and 2011, Italy has recorded a drastic increase in the number of application with about 60%. This has been associated with the increasing number of applications from that seeking asylum status from the people that were running away from revolutionary activities in Tunisia. What this means is that change in the social status of the neighboring country tend to affect the preference of certain countries considered possible destinations for asylum seekers. For example, the change in the political activities has increased the number of Tunisia asylum applications to Italy making it the fourth most preferred destination for asylum seekers in the world (UNHCR 2010). Closed approach to asylum seekers While many countries seek to effectively manage the movement of the asylum seekers, the closed approach has been seen to be considered by many countries as the best way to do that. The closed approach entails putting in place those polices limit or allows for thorough scrutiny of those people seeking asylum status. This approach is especially implemented at the border level where people considered as immigrants from certain countries where security has been compromised are not allowed to come in. this is because of the fear if the open system is allowed where asylums can come in freely, then there is the danger illegal crossing of borders (Yoldi 2007). If the approach is used, in many occasions, there are those people who will take the advantage to engage themselves in illegal activities such as human smuggling and trafficking and thereby endangering the lives of those who may be innocent and want to cross borders to get help somewhere else. For example in the world currently, human smuggling and trafficking is a big challenge. According to the united report of 2011, on human trafficking and smuggling, it is estimated that 700,000 and 4 million women and children are trafficked globally each and the intention being to use them in committing social vices such as prostitution, hard labor and other related exploitative activities. The United Nations estimates human trafficking to be a business worth $7 billion every year. With this kind of situation, it is therefore expected that with open approach human trafficking and smuggling is likely to be enhanced. This is because people engaged in these activities will have a humble opportunity to do their illegal activities. So with the crossed approach, it is easy to deal with issues related to trafficking and smuggling of human beings through screening at the borders (Latham and Goddard 2008). Cost of helping asylum seekers Further, apart a lot of money spent by different governments to manage their ports and entry gates to ensure only genuine asylum seekers, there is also extra costs incurred for sustaining these people by providing them with necessary support and humanitarian aid. Enormous resources are being spent in the process of helping some of the asylums that are put in various detentions (UNHCR 2012). For example to provide basic life to the asylums in terms of shelter, food and security as well as medical care a lot has to be spent. For instance, in Australia, it’s estimated that over $3.3 billion is being spent on both detentions and humanitarian support. This is very big budget that any government could consider to improve the lives of its people by improving on various areas such as health and education that are very fundamental in the society (ABS 2010). Apart from cost, the issue of refugees is a big challenge and can lead to a diplomatic challenge between the involved countries. This is because the cost related to helping the refugees can be dealt with internally through good governance. The current global conflicts that have been caused by refugees include the conflict between Kenya and Somalia and between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These cases are as a result of insecurity issues related to harboring refugees (TEAM 2012). On the other hand, despite all these challenges that the host countries face from refugees, close monitoring of the entry of these people could turn to impact positively to the development of the society. This is because some of them posses important skills that may not be available locally (Evans 2009). With this regard therefore, while employing the crossed approach to dealing with refugees. For example, in Australia it has been established that some of the asylum seekers have contributed greatly to such areas as sports, artworks, science, research and development as well as civic and community development (Phillips and Spinks 2010). Conclusion The purpose of this article was to study the concept of asylum seekers by looking at the current trends and global movements in asylum seekers, the management approaches to asylum seekers and the costs and benefits associated to asylum seekers. Despite the good intentions behind the managing of asylum seekers, it has become very difficult to deal with human trafficking and smuggling as the offenders incorporate themselves to asylum seekers. Accommodating the asylum seekers although very costly, it is emerging that the involved victims can be of great important to host country in terms of skills and experience. With this regard, the closed approach to managing asylum seekers may not be the best as it might deny the host country good opportunity to access rare skills and experiences. References ABS. (2010). Statistics derived from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s 2009-10 Annual Report, available at http://www.immi.gov.au/about/reports/annual/2009-10/ Castles, S (2005. ‘Nation and empire: hierarchies of citizenship in the new global order’, International Politics, vol. 42, pp. 203–24. Department of Immigration and Citizenship (2011). Fact Sheet 60 – Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program, http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/60refugee.htm Dutton, D (2002). One of Us? A century of Australian citizenship, UNSW Press, Sydney Joint Standing Committee on Migration (2009). Immigration Detention in Australia: Report 2, http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committee/mig/detention/report2.htm. Evans, C. (2009). Media Release: Opposition must come clean on Temporary Protection Visas, http://www.chrisevans.alp.org.au/news/1009/immimediarelease30-02.php Latham, S., and Goddard, C. (2008). Human Rights Overboard: Seeking asylum in Australia, Scribe, Melbourne. Phillips, J. & Spinks, H. (2010). “Boat Arrivals in Australia since 1976”. Parliament of Australia, Parliamentary Library. http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Li brary/pubs/BN/2011-2012/BoatArrivals Rothman, D (1998). The Discovery of the Asylum: Social order and disorder in the new republic, Little, Brown and Company, Boston. TEAM (2012). The tolerance, equity and awareness movement, 29th August 2012, available at: http://www.teamwmi.org/# United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2010). All in the same boat: The challenges of mixed migration, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a1d406060.html. UNHCR (2010). 2009 Global Trends. Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Returnees, Internally Displaced and Stateless Person, http://www.unhcr.org/4c11f0be9.html UNHCR (2011). 2010 Global Trend, 27th Ausgust 2012, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/4dfa11499.html UNHCR. (2012). The UN refugee agency: Regional Operations Profile – Africa Working environment, 29th August 2012, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a02d7fd6.html Yoldi, O (2007). Life in Refuge Camps. NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors, http://www.startts.org.au/default.aspx?id=312 Read More