World Refugee Day 2024, History, Theme and Significance

Context

• The world has over 43.4 million refugees, with conflicts escalating globally.
• World Refugee Day prompts us to remember these individuals’ human stories and underscores the urgent need for comprehensive asylum policies, especially in historically hospitable nations like India.

World Refugee Day 2024

World Refugee Day is observed annually on June 20th globally, dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of refugees worldwide. It serves as a poignant reminder of the millions who are compelled to flee their homes due to war, persecution, or natural disasters. The day honours their resilience, advocates for their rights, and promotes efforts towards lasting solutions to displacement.

World Refugee Day 2024 Theme

The official theme for World Refugee Day 2024 is “Everyone is Welcome” – emphasises global unity and support. This theme underscores the importance of global unity in supporting refugees, advocating for their inclusion, and ensuring access to asylum. It calls for creating welcoming environments in host countries where refugees can rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to society. Ultimately, the theme reflects a vision of a world that embraces diversity and provides refuge to those in need, striving towards a future where everyone has a place to call home.

Goals

• Acceptance and inclusion of refugees in host nations.
• Access to asylum and opportunities for integration.
• Safe return home or full integration for refugees.
• Lasting solutions to global displacement.

India’s Role in Asylum

• India has a long history of granting asylum, dating back to ancient times.
• Notable examples include Jews fleeing to India before Christ, Zoroastrians escaping Islamic persecution, East Bengalis during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, as well as Tibetans, Sri Lankan Tamils, Nepalis, Afghans, and Rohingyas.
• The partition of India in 1947 led to one of the largest refugee crises in history, with 13-15 million people displaced.

Challenges for Refugees in India

• Dehumanisation of Refugees: As refugee numbers rise, there’s a risk of viewing them merely as statistics rather than human beings with individual needs, fears, hopes, and aspirations.
• Lack of Legal Framework in India: Despite its historical record of granting asylum, India is neither a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention nor its 1967 Protocol. It also lacks a domestic asylum framework, leading to ad hoc and inconsistent handling of refugees.
  • Example: The absence of a comprehensive legal framework means that refugees are managed through a patchwork of laws like the Foreigners Act, 1946, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Passports Act (1967), the Extradition Act, 1962, the Citizenship Act, 1955 (including its ominous 2019 amendment) and the Foreigners Order, 1948,, all of which treat refugees as “aliens”.
• Government Actions: The Indian government’s treatment of certain refugee groups has been criticised as harsh and in violation of international law.
  • Example: In 2017, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a circular classifying Rohingyas as “illegal migrants,” leading to their detention under poor conditions and eventual deportation. Over 700 Rohingyas were detained in India as of August 2023.
    • Additionally, the government’s inhospitable attitude towards the Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmarese in Mizoram.
• Inconsistent Judicial Interpretations: Different judges have taken varied approaches to refugee cases, resulting in inconsistent rulings and a lack of reliable legal protection for refugees.
  • Example: The 1996 Supreme Court ruling in the National Human Rights Commission vs State Of Arunachal Pradesh case stopped the forcible eviction of Chakma refugees, emphasising the need for proper asylum processing.

World Refugee Day History

World Refugee Day Theme From 2001 to 2024

The themes chosen for International Refugee Day over the years are listed below.

World Refugee Day Important Facts

The global refugee crisis is a complex humanitarian challenge affecting millions worldwide. Here are key points that highlight different aspects of this crisis:

• Forced Displacement: Record numbers of people are forced to leave their countries due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters, with many unable to return.
• Children: Half of all refugees are children, totaling around 35 million globally, facing trauma, separation, and disrupted education.
• Statelessness: Stateless persons lack nationality due to discrimination, facing barriers in accessing rights like education and healthcare.
• Returnees: Former refugees returning home need support for reintegration to rebuild their lives safely and sustainably.
• Humanitarian Response: Requires coordinated efforts for immediate relief (shelter, food, medical care) and long-term solutions (resettlement, integration, prevention of statelessness).
• International Cooperation: Essential for protecting refugee rights, advocating durable solutions, and addressing root causes of displacement.

Way Forward

• Enact a National Asylum Law: India should pass comprehensive legislation to manage asylum seekers and refugees systematically.
  • Proposal: A Private Member’s Bill introduced in February 2022 sought to enact a Refugee and Asylum law. This bill included criteria for recognizing asylum seekers, specified rights and duties, and called for the creation of a National Commission for Asylum to review and decide applications.
• Uphold the Principle of Non-Refoulement: The cornerstone of refugee law states that no country should send a person to a place where they may suffer persecution. The proposed Asylum Bill emphasises this principle.
• Improve Conditions for Refugees: Ensure that refugees can access basic public services, including healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
• Consistent Legal Management: Develop a clear and consistent legal framework to deal with asylum seekers, reducing reliance on judicial interpretations and bureaucratic discretion.
• International Cooperation: India should actively participate in global efforts to address refugee issues, upholding its traditions and demonstrating its commitment to humanitarian values.
• Judicial Guidance: Follow the Supreme Court’s direction that all individuals in India, irrespective of nationality, enjoy the inviolable rights guaranteed by Articles 14, 20, and 21 of the Constitution.
  • Example: The Supreme Court ruling in the National Human Rights Commission vs State Of Arunachal Pradesh case, which emphasised the proper processing of asylum applications.

Conclusion

• India’s Potential Role: Enacting a comprehensive asylum law would position India as a leader in global asylum management, reflecting its historical commitment to humanitarian values.
• Moral Obligation: Urges India to uphold its traditions and serve the cause of humanity, aligning with its self-image as a global leader and vishwaguru.

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