Why accepting migrants and refugees can be a win for everyone
Think about the decisions you have taken today -- what to wear, what to eat, what to read on your news feed. Many of the daily choices that you make are so routine that you probably barely notice.
Now imagine you have a different kind of decision to take. Whether to risk the safety of your family on a dangerous journey because the alternative is persecution at home. Whether to put your child on a boat on rough seas because you see reaching the other side as the only hope of survival. Whether to pack up and leave everything you have ever known because you can no longer feed yourself or your family.
These are the decisions faced by millions of women, men and children across the world today -- decisions that no person should ever have to make -- because we are in the midst of the biggest refugee and migration challenge of our time.
The numbers are astronomical. More than 60 million people have been forcibly displaced either within countries or internationally. There are 19.6 million refugees -- a 24 per cent increase since 2000. Half of them are children. Last year, the number of migrants who have left their countries in search of a better life reached 225 million.
When it comes to refugees and migrants, misperceptions and misinformation abound, not least about where people are moving. Almost 90 per cent of the world’s refugees are hosted in developing countries -- and just eight countries host more than half the world’s refugees. This is a huge challenge, one that countries on the front lines of the crisis are struggling to shoulder.
It is time for the international community to develop a more effective global response. That is why I am working to bring countries together behind a humane and coordinated approach, one that will serve the common interest of all nations, uphold human rights and international law, and achieve a global sharing of responsibility.
When I write about the situation of refugees and migrants, I do so from personal experience. I myself was once an internally displaced person. As a child in war-torn Korea, I saw my village destroyed. My family and others were forced to flee our homes. We survived on food and medicine from UNICEF. We studied with textbooks provided by UNESCO. And of course, the troops of many nations secured our freedom while fighting under the United Nations flag.
When managed properly, the movement of migrants and acceptance of refugees can be a win for everyone. Migration is and always has been a major contributor to economic growth -- through remittances, entrepreneurship, strengthened trade relations and more. Refugees are famously devoted to education and self-reliance. These are brave, resilient and forward-looking people who bring needed skills and energy to their new societies.
I have met with migrants and refugees around the world and seen first-hand that they are survivors and strivers, eager to contribute to their host communities. With the right policies, we can optimize the benefits and work towards migration that is safe, orderly and regular.
I am deeply concerned about the rise of xenophobic and nationalistic rhetoric that demonizes refugees and migrants. We must avoid statements, policies and practices that promote intolerance and fear, which only serve to divide communities and sow instability.
Refugee and migrant crises are far from insurmountable but they cannot be addressed by countries acting alone. As we increase global cooperation, we must also do more to resolve the cycles of conflict, violence, and poverty that force people to flee in the first place.
The 19 September UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants is a historic opportunity for countries to come together behind a more humane and coordinated approach to migration and refugee movements.
We all have a role to play in strengthening our common humanity. No matter where you live, you can help by speaking out against hateful rhetoric and harmful stereotypes of refugees and migrants -- in your community, at work or at school.
As a child, the United Nations was a lifeline for me and my family; a beacon of hope. Today, I will spare no effort to ensure that the United Nations does everything in its power to help refugees and migrants everywhere.
- Find out about the #UN4RefugeesMigrants Summit.
- See how you can support refugees and migrants.
- Find out about the work of the UN Refugee Agency.
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7 年This is of MORE RELEVANCE, EVERY DAY. Today even more than a year ago.
Global MBA | Internal Auditor | Financial Analyst | Sustainable Finance ESG | Cloud Accounting | Supply Chain Sustainability | Humanitarian Logistics | Risk Management | Project & Financial Management |
8 年I personally encountered the Syrian refugees during the last World Youth Day (WYD) at Poland, they are full of hope. In the country they are now--they are working hard and having they post-degree studies.Truly-- "Refugees are famously devoted to education and self-reliance. These are brave, resilient and forward-looking people who bring needed skills and energy to their new societies." Last WYD, Syrian refugee shared message about their difficult situations and despite of that--they are full of hope for their countrymen--for the end of war and aid for the victims of war.
PhD, MPhil, PGD, BSc, Chem.Tech. Eng, Text. Tech, C.Text ATI, C.Col SDC, Diplomate SDC ~ The University of Leeds
8 年VENEZUELA Ban Ki-moon Until when UN is to play a passive role before the slaughter of Venezuelan people.? Ashamed on you as secretary general i.e.: Facta non Verba = Deeds not Words Mr.
Project Manager at Bareshavigh Miabanutyun NGO
8 年“Above all I ask leaders and legislators and the entire international community above all to confront the reality of those who have been displaced by force, with effective projects and new approaches in order to protect their dignity, to improve the quality of their life and to face the challenges that are emerging from modern forms of persecution, oppression and slavery”. - Pope Francis