Millions of people around the world have been displaced by conflict, violence or natural disasters. Some have been forced to flee because of their religion, ethnicity or political beliefs. Many have lost everything and are seeking a new life. They are seeking safety, food and dignity. The scale of displacement has never been so high.
Displacement is a long-term process that needs a long-term response. Early responses tend to focus on practical and functional matters, such as providing a minimum standard of living for refugees or dealing with the logistics of refugee flows. However, this is not enough. When governments spend too much time and effort on these issues, they can forget about addressing the root causes of the crisis. The result is that temporary situations become permanent and scapegoating and manipulation occur.
We need to focus on building resilience, ensuring protection and providing a path to citizenship for those who can’t return home. But we also need to combat all kinds of xenophobia and discrimination – in all its forms. For example, it is utterly unfair to blame migrants and refugees for economic and social problems and to promote prejudice by claiming that they bring disease, crime and instability. We must also investigate and prosecute those who traffick refugees, enslave and exploit them and leave them to die – as the survivors whom Amnesty International has met in Southeast Asia have told us. In parliamentary elections, we must vote for politicians who will put into practice policies that address the root causes of the refugee crisis and are not afraid to challenge myths about refugees.