Q. “Refugees should not be turned back to the country where they would face persecution or human right violation.” Examine the statement with reference to the ethical dimension being violated by the nation claiming to be democratic with open society. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Answer:

Approach:

  • Introduction: Contextual introduction or add the current event linked to the issue.
  • Body: 
    1. Mention the several instances where countries have violated this ethical obligation.
    2. Add examples to substantiate your points.
  • Conclusion: Conclude by relevant statements or way forward. 

Introduction:

This statement highlights an ethical obligation of nations to protect the fundamental human rights of refugees. When a country turns back refugees to a place where they face persecution or human rights violations, it violates the ethical principles of justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity.

Body:

Examples for ethical dimension being violated by the nation claiming to be democratic with open society.

Violation of Non-refoulement Principle:

Example: Australia has faced criticism for its policy of turning back asylum seekers arriving by boat. In 2013, Australia implemented Operation Sovereign Borders, intercepting and returning boats carrying asylum seekers to their country of origin, including those facing persecution. 

Lack of Compassion and Solidarity:

Example: Hungary’s response to the refugee crisis has been criticized for lacking compassion and solidarity. In 2015, Hungary built fences along its borders to deter and prevent the entry of refugees. 

Other examples:

  • The Rohingya crisis: In 2017, the Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, were subjected to a violent military crackdown. Over 700,000 Rohingyas fled to neighboring Bangladesh seeking refuge. However, Bangladesh, being a poor country with limited resources, was unable to accommodate such a large number of refugees. As a result, many Rohingyas were turned back to Myanmar where they faced persecution and human rights violations.
  • The Syrian refugee crisis: The Syrian refugee crisis is one of the largest refugee crises in the world. Since the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, millions of Syrians have fled their country seeking refuge in neighboring countries and Europe. However, several countries have refused to accept Syrian refugees, citing concerns about national security and economic burden.
  • The US-Mexico border crisis: In recent years, thousands of migrants from Central America have been fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries and seeking asylum in the United States. However, the US government has implemented several policies to restrict asylum seekers, including turning back asylum seekers to Mexico where they face violence and human rights abuses.

In each of these examples, the countries violated the ethical obligation to protect the fundamental human rights of refugees. By turning back refugees to a place where they face persecution or human rights violations, these countries violated the principles of justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity.

Conclusion:

It is imperative that nations uphold their ethical obligation to protect the rights of refugees and provide them with the necessary support and assistance to live a life of dignity and security.

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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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