Topic: The Rights and Status of Refugees
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Christine Huynh
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All South Africa position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
The world, especially Europe, is currently undergoing high levels of displacement and refugees fleeing from impoverished nations. 65.6 million people have been forced from their home because of conflict and persecution in their countries. Nearly a sixth of this have been denied nationality, employment, healthcare, and other basic rights. This Migrant Crisis is a shared struggle and global issue that needs to be discussed and come to solutions with. As of 2015, there were nearly 3.2 million asylum seekers and refugees residing in South Africa. They are all given the rights they need but still face, as of the rest of the world, harsh conditions and unsatisfying enforcement of their rights.
Although South Africa did not recognize refugees until 1993 due to the apartheid regime, South Africa embraces the integration of refugees into society and providing for their well-being. The Migrant Crisis is strangely similar to the effect of the apartheid on the black people of South Africa, thus South Africa is sympathetic with this issue and believes we must address the enforcement of these protective rights. The Refugee Act passed in 1998 governed the admission of asylum seekers into the nation; South Africa is home to nearly a million asylum seekers and has been making standards for refugees to reside freely and given the validity of rights. According to UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), South Africa has “a liberal asylum legislation that incorporates all basic principles of refugee protection including freedom of movement, the right to work and access to basic social services”.
South Africa suggests the enforcement of refugee rights to improve their status and condition. Many governments blame refugees for their economic/social problems and there must be laws and implementation of laws that prohibit discrimination, which most of the time lead to violence. Violence can lead to international insecurity. Some countries still do not provide fundamental laws to the asylum seekers and refugees. South Africa recognizes the right of all to apply to asylum, for fair treatment, and basic rights such as education, healthcare, and employment. These rights should apply to all other countries, especially those experiencing large inflations of incoming asylum seekers and refugees.
