So, what can be done?

So, what can be done?

Bias in European Refugee Systems: Part IV

This is the final part of a four-part series on refugee systems in the European Union. Part one can be found here, part two here and part three here.

As the world watched, the European Union (EU) welcomed many of the refugees from Ukraine with open arms. Seven short years earlier, the Syrian Crisis brought equally terrified and desperate people to the EU’s borders, and many were met with skepticism and fear. That asylum and help were extended to those scared and anguished Ukrainian people isn’t the issue at the heart of this argument: the disparity in the attitudes, policies and treatment between these two groups is.
It is understandable that one could be anxious about having people who appear foreign in one's community.  Humans traditionally fear the unknown and change; seeing an influx of people can make one anxious and distrustful.  Remembering that we all have different beliefs and backgrounds can help to mitigate some of those fears.  Taking the time to recognize and acknowledge that there are differences but that there are also similarities can relieve some of that anxiety.  A family of four from Syria plays together, laughs at the children's antics, and probably have arguments about the children eating vegetables just the same as a French family, or a German one, or even a Ukrainian family.  Recognizing that those families also want to provide and care for their loved ones can go a long way to bridging the gaps.
The EU needs to strengthen their refugee and asylum policies to prevent discrimination. The Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) offers protections to desperate individuals while providing timelines for the asylum seeker to receive permanent citizenship. Building off that directive and implementing it fairly and equally would be a great start for removing the bias that existed between the Syrian and Ukrainian crises.
The EU is not alone in its struggles with policies and attitudes towards those people who try to seek asylum. Many nations, including my own United States, blow with the political wind on who, when, and how many demoralized people should be helped. It is a complex problem, however removing the human bias would make it easier to implement and enforce.
Refugee systems should treat all people with the same respect, dignity and humanity regardless of their background or beliefs. Guidelines should be written in a way that does not discriminate based on ethnicity or religious belief. When defining if a person is “worthy” of help, of protection, of respect, remember that we are all the same human race. Bad apples come in all colors: red, green, yellow, white or striped. The same can be said for good apples.

Location: Austin, TX, USA

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