U.N.H.C.R.: confusion might endanger refugees
Earlier in this newscast, we spoke to community leader Arun Hotchandani regarding human trafficking. As it happens, this week the regional representative for the United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees is in Belize on a familiarization tour. According to Hoffmann, refugees should not be confused with immigrants seeking better economic opportunities.
Marion Hoffmann, Regional Rep.,U.N.H.C.R.
?It is our concern that in this vast flow of people that cross borders, the plight of refugees may be forgotten. And the fact that this may be forgotten and the confusion persists may cause that while implementing deportation by sending people back, some may actually be in danger.?
?A refugee is a person who is outside his country of origin. A refugee has a well founded fear of persecution because of having the wrong race, the wrong religion, the wrong nationality, the wrong political belief or belongs to a particular social group that makes him or her vulnerable to being persecuted. So the refugee is somebody who is outside the country seeking international protection, because his human rights are not protected back home.?
?Access to asylum, this is what U.N.H.C.R. has to ensure. We work with governments, we work with immigration authorities, we work with border authorities, we work with civil society and we work with the media. And we are always very grateful when we have media helping us pass the message, that yes refugees do need protection. They should not be sent back to a country where they fear persecution.?
The U.N.H.C.R.’s implementing partner in Belize is the non-governmental organization, Help for Progress. According to current statistics, there are less than ten people a year who seek Belize for asylum, but in Columbia, there are some three million refugees and internally displaced people. In 1985, Belize established an entire community, Valley of Peace, primarily for refugees escaping war in El Salvador.
