Refugee 101 Colorado Refugee School Impact Grant ivymama.wordpress.com Muslimvoices.org GTZ.DE UN multimedia UN multimedia New York Times UN multimedia UNHCR
Who is a refugee? contributed by LFS
Definition Refugees • People who must flee their homeland fearing death or persecution because of their race, religion, or political views. These people must leave everything behind, including family members, material possessions, and cultural identity for the chance to rebuild a life with personal safety, individual freedom, and peace. • h"p://www.ersden.org/ ¡ UN multimedia
The progress of a refugee: from persecution to a camp Persecution Flight Refugee UN multimedia Camp
General Refugee Facts Global refugee population of 15.1 million people • 10.5 million get protection/assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees • at least 8.5 million have been without a home for more than 5 years – Many live in camps waiting among crime, violence, drugs, limited access to work or education Durable solutions for refugees 1. Safe, voluntary return to own country 2. Self-sufficiency and temporary/indefinite/permanent local integration into country of asylum 3. Resettlement in a third country - used particularly for those refugees for whom the other two solutions are not feasible Source: FY 2012 Report to Congress ¡
U.S. Resettlement HISTORY • After World War II, the U.S. admitted over 250,000 displaced Europeans • In 1948, the Displaced Persons Act passed, allowing 400,000 additional European refugees to resettle in the U.S. • Other laws allowed refugees from Communist countries to enter during the 1950s and 1960s • In 1975, the Refugee Task Force admitted over 100,000 refugees from Southeast Asia • Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980 which is the foundation of the current resettlement program Source: http://www.brycs.org/aboutRefugees/refugee101.cfm ¡ The U.S. resettles 74% of people who opt for third-country resettlement = 54,077 refugees in 2010 Secretary of State Clinton: • “The United States has a history of upholding human rights and humanitarian principles. For decades we have led the world in overseas support for humanitarian protection and assistance, and we have provided asylum and refugee resettlement for millions. In doing so, we show through example our dedication to basic human decency, to our responsibilities under international law, and - along with the rest of the international community - to ensuring refuge when innocent lives hang in the balance. We do this because our country’s values must be a critical component of our foreign policy.” Source: FY 2012 Report to Congress ¡
The progress of a refugee: from a camp to applying for a new home Application for resettlement Wait contributed by LFS Wait
In Colorado Refugees Resettled 2008-2010 Country of Origin Number Resettled Bhutan 1455 Burma 1435 Iraq 844 Somalia 769 Democratic Republic of Congo 323 Eritrea 178 Ethiopia 157 Cuba 129 Burundi 114 http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDHS-SelfSuff/CBON/1251581469402 ¡
Bhutanese Lhotsampa People of the South • Ethnic Nepalis whose ancestors moved generations ago to Bhutan to farm • Population grew; Bhutan’s king and the Druk majority started to marginalize by promoting Bhutanization of systems – Imposed Druk dress and customs – Outlawed Nepali language in schools – Changed citizenship eligibility, stripping many Lhotsampa of their citizenship/ civil rights • Community protests led to violence http://www.wfp.org/countries/Nepal/Media/The- and, in December 1990, expulsion Forgotten-Refugees http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_bhutanese.pdf ¡
Bhutanese Lhotsampa Cultural Interactions and Customs • Respect is shown to elders and authority. • Eye contact during conversation is standard and is not a sign of disrespect. • Family is one of the highest priorities, and the community is very supportive. • The caste system separates people into different social levels and influences the choice of marriage and other social relationships. • Gender roles are distinct and clearly defined. Denver Health Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡
Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal contributed by LFS
Burmese Minority groups: Karen, Karenni, Kachin Chin, Rohingya, Myanmar Muslims, Mon, etc. • Fighting between government, ethnic opposition groups and pro-democracy supporters has been ongoing for fifty years, but escalated in 1990s • Many refugees fled between 1995-1997 after military offensives by government against opposition movements – Ethnic groups/individuals in these states were forced to relocate or potentially face arrest, detention, forced labor, conscription – Cultural and religious identities repressed UNHCR Quick Fact Sheet : Burmese Resettlement from Tham Hin Camp in Thailand ¡ http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5
Burmese Cultural Interactions and Customs • Respect for elders is important and males have the highest authority in families, though, women still have rights. • It is considered improper to lose one’s temper or show much emotion in public. • Do not touch people on the head, which is considered the spiritually highest part of the body. • It is disrespectful to point your feet toward a senior person, since the feet are regarded as the least noble part of the body. • Use both hands to give something to, and receive something from an older person. • Traditions and religious beliefs play important roles in family life. – Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Animism http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5 Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡
Karen Cultural Interactions and Customs • Some Karen do not want to be referred to as Burmese • Traditionally, Karen do not shake hands or bow. • Avoid walking in front of others; go behind those who are seated. • Direct eye contact is sometimes not considered polite. • Pointing with the feet or showing the bottoms of one’s feet and touching the head is disrespectful. • Karen do not pick up something that belongings to another person. • When handing something to someone, it is respectful to use two hands. • Being direct is culturally considered rude and confrontation is avoided. • Many Karen have a cultural value of not imposing on others or being quiet or less talkative. Saying “no” is often a way to be modest, even when an affirmative Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡ answer might seem more appropriate. Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡ http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5
Karenni Cultural Interactions and Customs • Karenni is a religious and ethnically diverse territory. • Communities highly value their traditions and independence. • Karenni hold a strong sense of ethnic identity and social cohesion. • Traditional identity is found in clothing. • Once young people have their own nuclear families, they will still take care of the elderly. • Karenni are not accustomed to saying “thank you” Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡ Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡ http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5
Mae La Refugee Camp: Thailand contributed by LFS
contributed by LFS contributed by LFS
Congolese Tutsi and Hutu Conflict • In 1994, the Rwanda genocide spread to DRC when Hutu extremists fled across the border and incited local Congolese to attack Tutsi. • After the 2003 peace agreement Tutsi hoped that discrimination and violence against them would stop, but the government conspired with extremists to increase hostility towards them. • In 2004, a refugee camp holding many Tutsi refugees was attacked and out of the 760 camp occupants 152 were murdered. welt.de http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_tutsi.pdf
Congolese Cultural Interactions and Customs • Handshakes are an important part of greetings. • A typical greeting might start with “Peace be unto you” or “Thanks be to God”, and continue with inquiries about the family, health, work and so on. • Care of sick, disabled or elderly family members is shared by the extended family. • The culture is matrilineal and children are considered a symbol of wealth. • Historically, men have been given Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡ positions of authority and leadership. Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡ Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡ http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5
Gihembe Refugee Camp: Rwanda http://aeglenn.blogspot.com/2009/10/ refugee-project-in-rwanda.html
Eritrean Kunama and Tigrinya Refugees • Kunama are located near the border of Ethiopia and are farmers and pastoralists • Tigrinya make up the largest ethnic group • Both have fled Eritrea because the outbreak of war in 1998 between Ethiopia and Eritrea – Kunama left to escape persecution by the government which accused them of siding with Ethiopia in the war – Tigrinya fled to escape harsh required enrollment in Eritrean national service Denver Health Refugee Clinic ¡ http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_kunama.pdf and http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_shimelba.pdf
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