Refugee vs Asylum Seeker
The two words refugee and asylum seeker have become a bane of modern societies what with discrimination being rampant in all parts of the world and also because of raging civil wars in may countries of the world. When certain groups of people are targeted by those in power in their own countries because of religion, political views, nationality, race or color of the skin, they are left with no choice but to seek shelter in either a neighboring country or anywhere else in the world. Such people are called asylum seekers in the country they are spotted. They are called in this manner until they are certified as refugees and granted asylum by the country they seek shelter in. let us take a closer look at this mammoth human problem spread in almost all parts of the world.
According to conventions of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN agency for refugees all over the world, all people who have well founded fears of being persecuted in their home country because of any of the reasons mentioned above are the responsibility of UNHCR and it undertakes to protect and it assists in their settlement, repatriation or relocation to a third country. Because of the gigantic and noble task undertaken by UNHCR, it has been awarded Noble Peace Prize twice in 1954 and 1981.
People often remain confused between asylum seekers and refugees. All those who flee their home countries because of well founded fears are called asylum seekers in the country they move to. Though these people call themselves refugees, they are not granted the status of refugees until their claims are evaluated and found to be correct. Different countries have in place their own asylum systems to decide on the claims of asylum seekers. If the claim is correct, asylum seekers become refugees and are then granted all human rights. They also qualify for protection at an international level. If the claim of asylum seekers is not found to be justified, they do not become refugees and are sent back to their respective countries.
In normal circumstances when there are few asylum seekers, all of them can be personally interviewed to find out the truth in their claim. But when large numbers of people flee from a war torn country or a country facing any calamity, it is clear that they are justified in their claim and all such groups are accorded the status of refugees.
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In brief: Asylum Seekers vs Refugees • Asylum seekers and refugees have become a necessary evil of modern times because of rampant discrimination, wars and other natural calamities. • People who flee from their home country because they fear persecution if they return are called asylum seekers until their claim of being refugees is evaluated. • UNHCR, an agency of the UN for refugees has been doing a commendable job in settlement, repatriation and relocation to third countries of millions of asylum seekers in all parts of the world every year.
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Related Topic:
Difference Between Refugee and Asylum