[UNHCR] Education vs Law - Further Discussions in UNHCR

Written by Daily Sabah

Debates at UNHCR brought up the usage of Law in comparison to education in the effort to protect the refugees from abuse and harassment. 

“It is only the Law that keeps the larger society at large to keep the sense of order and sanity.” 

- The Federal Republic of Ethiopia 

He also added that “Both refugees and staff involved in taking care of these refugees could be educated properly and sufficiently about the laws related to abuse,” to discourage abuse and be able to properly identify them and report in the case of abuse. Some raised a suggestion on the implementation of a punishment system while others are in favour of a reward system. Regardless, both Education and Law should go hand-in-hand. 

Amongst the debates of education and law, countries discussed the possible introduction of a separate Entity. 

Ethiopia believes that the provision of education could indeed assist with the creation of the entity, as it would further elucidate the refugees on the existence and purpose of such an entity that could assist them with dealing with the abuse that they face. This is because education provides an integral foundation in both comprehension and the utilization that the refugees can wield in understanding the abuse that they face such that they would not have to continue going through such turmoil.

With the introduction of stricter laws and the establishment of reporting systems, education would complement such efforts by empowering refugees with the knowledge of how they can ensure their rights, and are more conscious of abuse, exploitations and harassment. It could also provide them with an accessible platform to report abuse cases and receive the necessary help and support. 

Western countries should also be held accountable for their actions. “Hard negotiations needed”

Western countries, such as the USA, are often first-world countries that have the most resources and hence the most power in creating an impact on the refugee crisis. Most refugees, especially those in Africa or the Middle East regions, flee to neighbouring countries, where the citizens are already burdened by lack of resources and political instability. Western countries also have a stake in resolving refugee crises in other countries, as often they make use of the natural resources in the countries that refugees both flee from and take refuge in. There are also Western countries that have contributed to the military conflict in countries that have become large sources of refugees, by sending over their troops to push their political agenda, worsening the refugee crisis. Hence, “hard negotiations” are required to hold the West accountable for their actions and hold them responsible in assisting in the resolution of the humanitarian crisis that they have contributed to. 

Western countries, being a contributor to the suffering of the refugees, should be held accountable. If laws are being placed in our country in the name of the protection of refugees against abuse, exploitation and harassment, shouldn’t such laws be similarly imposed on these Western countries?

Shortchanging Turkey's interest.  

However, the UNHCR had seemingly failed to address the security interest of hosting countries of the refugees, pushing the blame and responsibility to our country, comparatively less financially and politically capable to be able to accommodate to the welfare of the refugees, and unable to afford to achieve that at the expense of our citizens. Has the UNHCR turned into a puppet for the Western countries? Do our interests even hold a place to be  represented in UNHCR?  Erdogan has repeatedly appealed to UNHCR and EU countries to provide more aid to Turkey in hosting Syrian refugees. Our country’s needs are overlooked by countries wanting to dominate our internal affairs through the establishment of law here.  Turkey holds the right to question the motive of imposing such measures, the UNHCR failure to acknowledge the sensitivity of the implementation of laws in our country, putting our country vulnerable to foreign interference to our country's governance, posing great security concerns to our country.