Social Justice Issue

Social Justice Issue

Asylum Seekers

Economic Effects of Asylum Seekers

• It is estimated that each asylum seeker costs an average of $70 000 to support annually
• Charities and organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Save the Children must be paid for helping asylum seekers in the community
• Supporting almost 13,000 asylum seekers asylum claims haven't been processed costs $265 million for just 10 months.
• Asylum seekers contribute positively to society:
• They settle in non-metropolitan areas, which creates social and economic benefits for regional communities
• Help meet labour shortages, including low-skill and low-pay occupations
• Many run small to medium-sized businesses
• Many make significant contributions volunteering in the community and in their community groups
• Benefit the global community through developing and maintaining economic links with their country of origin

My Action Plan

Who?

• Politicians and world leaders
• People who do not support asylum seekers

What?

Who are asylum seekers?

The Catholic Church's view on the Issue

• Increase awareness about the struggles asylum seekers face to escape the harsh situations they are in
• Improve the discrimination asylum seekers face to help them integrate into their country for resettlement

Why?

• People who are seeking protection because they have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of their race, religion, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group.
• They may also be fleeing other serious human rights violations, including torture or cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment.

• The Catholic Church teaches that anyone whose life is threatened has the right to protection. It is the element of persecution, threat or danger, or being forcibly displaced that gives rise to a right to seek asylum.
• Human life is sacred because each person is created in the image and likeness of God. The human dignity and human rights of asylum seekers must be respected, regardless of their citizenship, visa status, or mode of arrival.
• The most vulnerable people are members of our family with whom we have a duty to share the resources we have. Solidarity towards asylum seekers is a part of being a member of the human family.
• Asylum seekers who have been forced from their homeland have a right to be a part of and integrate into the host community. We must help asylum seekers find a place to stay where they can live in peace and solidarity, so that they can work and take on the rights and duties that exist in the country that welcomes them.

• According to Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution"
• In hopes that one day asylum seekers will be welcomed and assisted by all members of society
• Learn from their experiences and stories to encourage world peace

How do asylum seekers differ from refugees and migrants?

"Love your neighbour as yourself."

(Matthew 22:39)

• Like an asylum seeker, a refugee is a person who has fled persecution. However, they have also sought protection and been granted refugee status. They may reside in a refugee camp waiting for an opportunity to return to their home country, may be waiting for an opportunity for resettlement in another country, or have been resettled in another country.
• A migrant is a person who chooses to leave their country, generally to seek work, study, or reunite with family. They can return home at any time.

How?

• Donate resources to organizations and charities that help refugees attain asylum in developed countries (ex. Red Cross)
• Propose the ides of supporting children seeking asylum through Free the Children at our school
• Educating people through presentations and staggering statistics
• Having victims talk about their experience
• Use documentaries, web sites, and movies about the harsh realities asylum seekers face to educate people
• Write letters to politicians to persuade them into making this issue a priority

With Whom/ Against Whom?

• With Whom: asylum seekers and their families, human rights activists who fight for the rights of asylum seekers
• Against Whom: Against those that do not support the integration of asylum seekers into society, people with judgements and discriminatory views on asylum seekers

Under What Circumstances?

The Issue of Asylum Seekers

• Some people feel that the government should spend money to fix issues in our country rather than focusing on funding the assistance of asylum seekers
• Some people feel that the issue does not effect them directly and therefore do not see it as a priority
• Some people express racist and discriminatory beliefs about asylum seekers
• People are aware of the issues of asylum seekers around the world but choose not to face them

• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates 612 700 asylum claims were received in 44 developed countries in 2013
• The majority of asylum claims in developed countries are received in Europe and the US.
• In 2013, more than 51 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to conflict and persecution, including :
• 16.7 million refugees
• 33.3 million internally displaced people
• almost 1.2 million people who's asylum application had not yet been determined
• It is estimated that at least 10 million people were stateless in 2013
• Only about 1% of the world's refugees are likely to ever be resettled
• Developed countries are able to help only about 10% of the recognized refugees that have been identified and require protection.

Outcome

Increase awareness about asylum seekers and the struggles they face to escape their situations, so that people can get involved in different organization to help asylum seekers.

In Summary...

• The ethical issue evokes the Catholic Graduate Expectations of being:
• a responsible citizen
• a caring family member
• a self-directed, responsible, life-long learner
• The Catholic Church teaches us that it is our duty to help asylum seekers because every person has the right to feel like they belong in a community
• Everyone is entitled the right to seek and enjoy asylum in other countries, which means we should enforce this right and strive to accommodate all refugees

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2016/oct/30/malcolm-turnbull-announces-lifetime-visa-ban-for-asylum-seekers-who-arrive-by-boat-video

Works Cited

"Asylum Seekers: 13 Things You Should Know." Accessed December 15, 2016. http://

www.redcross.org.au/files/20141103_Asylum_Seekers_13_things_you_should_know

_FINAL_HR_crop.pdf.

"Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office - Home." Accessed October 24, 2016.

http://www.acmro.catholic.org.au/.

Jones, Gemma. "Australia will be paying $70,000 for each asylum seeker that arrives."

$70,000 for each asylum seeker. June 3, 2013. Accessed December 16, 2016. http://www.news.com.au/national/australia-will-be-paying-70000-for-each-asylum-seeker-that-arrives/news-story/4d16077ce67341cf5abe9c862835bc29.

"Turnbull to propose law that bans boat asylum seekers from Australia permanently." New

Law to Ban Asylum Seekers Arrivals by Boat in Australia. October 31, 2016. Accessed December 16, 2016. http://www.news.com.au/national/turnbull-to-propose-law-that-bans-boat-asylum-seekers-from-australia-permanently/news-story/793919195011e35c15471918b007c8a1.

"United Nations Global Issues - Refugees." Accessed October 23, 2016. http://www.un.org/

en/globalissues/briefingpapers/refugees/overviewofforceddisplacement.html.

"Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations." Accessed October 24, 2016.

http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/index.html.

Social Justice Issue: Asylum Seekers