Topic: The Rights and Status of Refugees
Country: Syria
Delegate Name: Athena Barrer
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Syria position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
Since March of 2011, Syria has been at war with terrorism. More than half of Syria’s population has been displaced. 12 million Syrians have been killed or forced to flee their homes and leave everything behind, including legal papers. Over half of Syria’s population has risked their lives by moving. Most refugees flee to neighboring countries to seek safety and stay alive. Although they have escaped the hardships, they no longer have an identity. These refugees are being deprived of their basic human rights. Many do not have proper shelter or food, are not given any education, don't have access to healthcare, and cannot find a job because of their legal status. Many are living in extreme poverty.
The Syrian Civil War started eight years ago. In this time, over 5.6 million Syrians have left the country. Until this conflict is terminated, this number will only go up. Even after the conflict ends, infrastructure, the economy, and most important fundamental human rights will need to be restored. We need to work to provide refugees support and basic needs while the war is still going on so that when the war ends they can safely return to their homes.
Syria recognizes the number of displaced peoples. The Syrian Government would like every refugee that fled the country to come back. This will not be easy unless the threats of terrorism are eliminated and economic sanctions implemented by the West are removed. President Assad stated, “when terrorism recedes, and things are better, they will return of their own volition without any invitation. So, instead of asking these people to return, I’ll call on the European governments, which have been a direct cause for the emigration of these people, by giving cover to terrorists in the beginning, and through the sanctions imposed on Syria, to help in making the Syrians return to their country.” Many European nations oppose the migration of Syrian refugees to their countries. The whole reason refugees are being brought into their countries is because they are providing terrorists leverage in the war.
Syria fully understands the West’s view on refugees migrating into their countries. Our people don't know your language or culture and have their own cultural beliefs back home in Syria. Bringing refugees back to their home countries is the most realistic way to handle this issue. By ending economic sanctions, Syria can defeat the rebels, end the war, and allow the Syrian refugees a path to return home.
Syrian refugees need humanitarian aid from any country willing to help while we work on ending economic sanctions. The overall goal of the Human Rights Council on the rights and status of refugees should be to return refugees to their homes after the conflict has ended. Syria is looking forward to working with fellow delegates along with reasoning with European nations to end conflicts in Syria as soon as possible and return refugees to their rightful homes so they are no longer a burden to your countries.
