Discuss About The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder By Counselors?

What is a refugee and why do nations accept them?

Question:

Discuss About The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder By Counselors?

The term refugee signifies persons who have to leave their motherland due to persecution, war and violence. Different working groups comprising of politicians, academicians, aid workers, press and other important individuals or organizations have been working industriously and religiously for the cognitive development and establishment of the socio-political dignity of the so called “refugees”. Another important thing in this process is migration that is also attached with this topic. The contemporary era has been quite significant in terms of refugee settlement in different countries thus entailing the emergence of global economy and global states comprising of cohesive culture. It has been observed that various countries have different views and conception regarding the refugee acceptance policy. Through this report, an attempt has been made regarding the reasons behind this different conceptions or policies (Kouider, Koglin & Petermann, 2014).

According to the definition of refugee defined within the framework of the United Nations, the refugees are the people “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality. They are unable or are unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country (Neuner et al. 2004).” 

The simple answer as to why nations should accept refugees would be that most countries over 145 of them are bound by the 1951 Convention that recognizes the status of refugees. However, this answer does not address the in depth issue that is, what political or balance of power would the 145 countries gain by becoming a signatory to a legislation that stipulates that no state parties shall return or expel a refugee in any manner to territories where his freedom and life would be threatened. The refugees are unfortunate foreigners whose life would be jeopardized on the grounds of race, religion, membership or nationality. Then why should nations accept the refugees and be concerned about them. The answer lies deep within the traditions of the Western World. Many people would argue that granting the refugees this right might jeopardize the culture and the standard of living of the citizens of the recipient countries. However, in majority of case, it is exactly the opposite. People usually fail to consider the other side of the coin. The refugees belong to distant countries, some of which cannot be pointed out in a map, or countries where they faced war like situation or calamities. When the countries refuse to accept the refugees, it signifies a refusal to a culture that is deep rooted within the western culture.

Natural right and the tradition of asylum in Western culture

The concept of asylum is profoundly rooted in Western Culture from Antiquity and the Medieval World. The primary reason why the countries should accept the refugees apart from their obligation under the 1951 Convention is the concept of natural right, which states that all men and women are entitled to a given set of rights by virtue of being a human. This doctrine fo natural right is explicitly explained in the beginning of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. It states that all men have been equally created and that their creator has entitled them to certain unalienable rights, among which are the right to pursuit of happiness and right to liberty.  

Further, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights inspired by the Declaration of Independence has included the essential ideas about the natural rights to the age-old concept of asylum. Article 14 states that everyone has the right to seek and enjoy asylum in other countries from the fear of persecution. The answer to the question why the countries should accept the refugees is because it is a part of the culture of the contemporary era and rejecting to accept the refugees is refusal of the ideas that are permits the society to flourish. The idea that every human being is entitled to pursue his own happiness and this notion is deeply entrenched in the cultural traditions. Hence, if a country rejects the concept of asylum, it amounts to rejection of the culture and humanity. The refugees should be accepted by countries as they already have suffered from the woes of war and it must be a responsibility of the country to abide by their statutory obligation to provide shelter to the refugees, safeguarding them from being persecution. Humanity is above all and the countries must ensure that the rights of human beings to enjoy liberty and pursuit of happiness.

After 1951 Refugee Convention organized by the United Nations, 142 states has signed on the protocol to provide effective shelter to the refugees. There have been several reasons behind the states to accept the refugees and where there have been several countries, which have not focused on the significance of the refugee settlement because of internal economic structure.   in his case, Hungary is one of the most important signatories however, several issues have been observed in terms of providing refuge to the number of refugees. Feeble structure of the economic condition and poor political settlement policies has been affecting the refugees in the country. European countries have been effectively extending their borders to provide shelter to them.  One of the most important factors is the economic condition and the per capita income of the individual citizen.  Since this has been taken into certain consideration pertaining to the effective understanding of the socio political issue, it has been observed that the conflict between the locals and outsiders have become more stringent in terms of accepting the refugees.

The reasons for varying refugee acceptance policies in different countries

In this context, this has been taken into certain consideration pertaining to the effective understanding of the fact that in most of the cases there has been continuous fight between these two. According to a report of CNN it has been found that conflict, persecution and poverty have been playing a significant role behind the rejection of the refugees from taking shelter in many of the countries. The Western European countries have been considered as mostly sought after places by the refugees as they provide ample opportunities for them to take shelter.  However there are several gateways through which they move towards their targeted places. In this context, this has been taken into certain understanding pertaining to the effective case that was highly effective in terms of creating emergency (Valtonen, 2012).  

However it can be stated that the problem regarding the refugees has grown tremendously and the countries are forced to change their notions regarding the refugee acceptance. The refugee crisis pushes the European countries towards the mass movement (Easton-Calabria, 2015). It has been observed that the aftermath effect of refugee problem has certain similarity with Second World War. One of the main reasons regarding the overwhelming nature of refugee is the terror caused due to Syria attack. In the recent years, it has been observed that Germany has to spend six billion euros to tackle the refugee rehabilitation program (Karageorge et al., 2017).

It is a fact that the countries of the European Union are obliged to accept the refugees due to the Refugee Convention that was conducted after World War II. It has been observed by the United Nation’s refugee agency that it is the duty of the international community to protect the refugees.  The treaty regarding the refugee had been amended in the year 1967 and more than 170 countries are signed to it.

The report regarding the refugee accepting policies are shocking. It has been reported that over 360,000 refugees are facing great dilemma due to the brutality of the ISIS and civil wars. Many Gulf countries are denied to accept the refugees as thay are quite near to the provinces of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. They are developing the fear for securing the interest of the citizens. Except the security provision, the countries are facing problem regarding the resources and supply of foods due to the refugee problem. In the Schengen area of EU, internal checking becomes a common thing. In the year 2015 to 2016, EU had spent 10 billion Euros behind refugee rehabilitation and this forced to bring a change in the financial policies of the government. Certain proposals have been taken to resettle the refugees in the provinces of Greece and Italy.

Economic and socio-political factors influencing refugee acceptance

Different notions have been taken by different countries regarding the refugee system. It has been observed that Germany had spent a lot of money for the resettlement of refugees. Australia has started certain refugee development program. However, the Gulf countries are unable to accept the refugees to their territory due to security issues. The cultural differences are also forced the countries to change their policies.

Therefore, it can be concluded that there are certain reasons behind the different responses of the governments of different nations regarding refugee problem.  More than 20000 refugees have insecure future in the Gulf countries thus moving towards Northern America and Western Europe.  Due to effective geopolitical power game, the countries have been facing several issues pertaining to settlement of those refugees. It can be stated that the United Nation’s conventions are securing the interest of the refugees but the accepting countries are facing serious problems regarding the financial expenditures and lack of resources. These problems are different in different places and therefore, it has been observed that the policies regarding refugee rehabilitation varied from one state to another. 

Reference:

Easton-Calabria, E. E. (2015). From bottom-up to top-down: The ‘pre-history’of refugee livelihoods assistance from 1919 to 1979. Journal of Refugee Studies, 28(3), 412-436.

Jensen, N. K., Norredam, M., Priebe, S., & Krasnik, A. (2013). How do general practitioners experience providing care to refugees with mental health problems? A qualitative study from Denmark. BMC family practice, 14(1), 17.

Karageorge, A., Rhodes, P., Gray, R., & Papadopoulos, R. (2017). Relationship and family therapy for newly-resettled refugees: A qualitative inquiry of an innovative, needs-adapted approach in Sydney, Australia. European Psychiatry, 41, S622-S623.

Keely, C. B., & Elwell, P. J. (1981). Global refugee policy: the case for a development-oriented strategy.

Kouider, E. B., Koglin, U., & Petermann, F. (2014). Emotional and behavioral problems in migrant children and adolescents in Europe: a systematic review. European child & adolescent psychiatry, 23(6), 373-391.

Neuner, F., Onyut, P. L., Ertl, V., Odenwald, M., Schauer, E., & Elbert, T. (2008). Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder by trained lay counselors in an African refugee settlement: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 76(4), 686-694.

Neuner, F., Schauer, M., Klaschik, C., Karunakara, U., & Elbert, T. (2004). A comparison of narrative exposure therapy, supportive counseling, and psychoeducation for treating posttraumatic stress disorder in an african refugee settlement. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 72(4), 579.

Valtonen, M. K. (2012). Social work and migration: Immigrant and refugee settlement and integration. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd..