Xenophobia and Refugees

Host communities sometimes view refugees with suspicion and mistrust. Refugees are perceived as a threat to their hosts' economic prosperity, social stability and cultural identity. Even where the local population welcomes refugees, their compassion can falter if refugees increase pressure on housing, social services and the environment, or if they stay for longer than anticipated. Such conditions can create fertile ground for the emergence of xenophobia and intolerance. Furthermore, the situation could be exacerbated by irresponsible news media and manipulation of the refugee issue by self-serving politicians.

Over the past several years, conditions have deteriorated in certain countries. There has been an increase in violent attacks on refugees and harsh rhetoric from politicians who use refugees as scapegoats, blaming them for social ills and economic problems. This trend gathered pace following the events of 11 September 2001, especially in the West, where refugees from Muslim countries were vulnerable to xenophobia and discrimination. In the European Union, where there are ongoing efforts to harmonize asylum policies, media reports and public debates quite often blurred the distinction between issues such as asylum, economic migration and terrorism.

These developments prompted UNHCR to list ten areas of 'most concern'. Among them were the threat of increased xenophobia and racism, and the possibility that governments would introduce legislation that would discriminate against refugees from particular religious, ethnic, national or political backgrounds. In late 2001, UNHCR expressed deep concern about xenophobia and discrimination against Muslims, and urged 'governments and politicians to avoid falling into the trap of making unwarranted linkages between refugees and terrorism.' It also asserted that 'genuine refugees are themselves the victims of terrorism and persecution, not its perpetrators.' Similar concerns were echoed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasizing the need to combat xenophobia and cautioning against weakening the international refugee protection regime.

Even in countries that have had a tradition of extending a warm welcome to refugees, a change in political, economic or social conditions can lead to the emergence of xenophobia. The case of Côte d'Ivoire serves as a poignant example. Until 2002, this was one of the most stable countries in West Africa, renowned for its vibrant economy, ethnic and religious diversity, and hospitality towards the 70,000 refugees from Liberia in the country. The Liberians, who had arrived in 1989, had been well received and been allowed to reside in villages in the western provinces of Côte d'Ivoire rather than in refugee camps. Moreover, they enjoyed access to work, education and healthcare, and were free to move about the country.

But things changed in September 2002, when a coup attempt against President Laurent Gbagbo provoked a full-scale civil war that severely affected the western provinces. Suspicions that foreign countries, including Liberia, had been involved in the attempted coup led to the rise of anti-foreigner sentiment among Ivorians. Some Ivorian politicians and newspapers added fuel to the fire by accusing the refugees of aiding the rebels. UNHCR tried to ensure the safety of 43,000 Liberian refugees by relocating them away from the conflict areas and resettling the most vulnerable in third countries. Many refugees were the victims of torture, murder and forcible recruitment by both the Ivorian rebel and government forces. In spite of a subsequent peace agreement between the government and rebels, the situation remains fragile and Liberian refugees in Côte d'Ivoire now live in precarious conditions.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, two decades of conflict between the Colombian government and rebel groups has created the worst humanitarian situation in the Western Hemisphere. Some 3 million Colombians have been internally displaced, while as many as 700,000 have fled to neighboring Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama and Costa Rica. In recent years, political and economic problems coupled with the destabilizing spillover effects of the unrest in Colombia have given rise to xenophobia in these countries. The involvement of Colombian guerrillas in violence, kidnapping and drug trafficking in the border regions has not helped.

UNHCR has pursued a regional strategy to strengthen protection and assistance for Colombian refugees and asylum seekers and counter xenophobia. It has tried to boost public awareness of the refugees' plight through radio advertisements, photo exhibits and educational programs.

The fight against xenophobia is a global struggle. But substantive moves in the right direction have been taken by the international community. In 2001, the final Declaration and Program of Action adopted by the UN-sponsored World Conference against Racism and Xenophobia contained 15 paragraphs relating to refugees. They dealt with root causes, respect and equitable treatment, durable solutions, responsibility sharing and upholding the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. Furthermore, in 2003 the Organization of American States adopted a resolution at its general assembly in Santiago, Chile, calling on member states to establish national mechanisms to protect refugees and asylum seekers and combat xenophobia and racism. However, there will be no end to discrimination against refugees until politicians encourage positive attitudes towards diversity and the displaced.