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 FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLYIMPROVING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS6th, 7th and 8th of March 2020Gymnasium Haganum, The HagueForum: Fourth General AssemblyIssue:Improving circumstances of illegal immigrantsStudent Officer:Tom den HollanderPosition:Deputy ChairIntroductionIn 2015 the number of international immigrants reached an all-time high of 244 million people, a growth percentage of 41% since 2000. However, not all of them have proper documents and are thus not allowed to reside in the country. Estimations state that in some countries, there are more than 10 million of these undocumented immigrants. In 2014 the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reached a shocking 60 million, because of various issues, including the European migrant crisis and the increasing number of Central Americans moving to the United States.These illegal immigrants face various issues trying to get to their final destination; they face illness and death by exposure, hunger, and drowning. More than 5000 people died because of the illegal smuggling across the Mediterranean and Aegean seas in 2017 and since 2000, more than 7000 have died on the Mexico-US border because of the desert heat. These factors make the journey dangerous and often fatal.Even after reaching the end of their journey, these illegal immigrants still face some dangers. First of all, because of the lack of proper documents, they don’t have access to proper health systems, education systems or housing. Because of this, their children will often be in the same conditions, not going to proper schools and not being able to go to a doctor. This only worsens the problem, as it encourages the illegal forgery of documents. Because these people don’t have documents, it’s often hard to find proper jobs, which leads to many working as laborers in conditions often below standard, but because they’re not legally working, they can’t complain. Illegal immigrants are tricked into “slavery”, working for below minimum wage, with employees relying on their reluctance to step forward to authorities. These issues also include prostitution, kidnapping and rape.Definition of Key TermsIdentity documentAn official piece of documentation issued by the competent authority of a State designed to prove the identity of the person carrying it. Adapted from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UN Recommendations on Statistics of International Migration.Minimum wageThe lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their workers, often not paid to illegal immigrants as they can’t step to authoritiesExpulsionA formal act or conduct attributable to a State by which a non-national is compelled to leave the territory of that State.Labour migrationMovement of persons from one State to another, or within their own country of residence, for the purpose of employment.RefugeesPeople who are outside their country of nationality or habitual residence and unable to return there owing to serious and indiscriminate threats to life, physical integrity or freedom resulting from generalized violence or events seriously disturbing public order.Safe, orderly and regular migrationMovement of persons in keeping both with the laws and regulations governing exit from, entry and return to and stay in States and with States’ international law obligations, in a manner in which the human dignity and well-being of migrants are upheld, their rights are respected, protected and fulfilled and the risks associated with the movement of people are acknowledged and mitigated.Background InformationEconomic impacts of illegal immigrationGenerally, contrary to the view of the public, immigrants are healthy for economies. For many western countries, there is a scarcity of low-skilled workers, because the average amount of years in school is going up. In contrast with countries like Mexico, where almost 75% of the residents of working age have less than 12 years of education. These people are still the ones who plumb our pipes, farm our food and rinse our residences and often overlooked. If a Mexican 25 year old male citizen moves to the US, his wage would improve from $2,30 to $8,50 an hour, adjusted for different cost of living. As such, one of the main motivating factors is exactly that it’s a whole new life and worth the risk. It’s positive for both parties involved.3343275905510Methods of illegal immigrationThe most well-known method, as well as the most dangerous one, is illegal border crossing, this method is responsible for many deaths in the Mediterranean, as well as the many refugee camps in Asia, Africa and Europe. In these refugee camps the conditions are often bad, not providing proper healthcare, or sometimes even more important, mental healthcare, leading refugees to be traumatized for life. This method should be focused on most when trying to improve the circumstances of illegal immigrants.33432752657475Global migrant deaths Jan 1st 2014 - May 2nd 201633432752657475Human RightsOne of the reasons why this issue is so important is that the people stranded on borders or stuck in a country without documents, don’t have the access to the resources everyone should be able to access, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), this includes clean water, enough nutrition and medical service. And when they do safely arrive in the country, they either have to forge documents or live without being able to step to authorities when they get mistreated. What also happens is that families are separated, and can live apart for the rest of their lives, that’s why the right to family reunification exists, this states divided families have the right to be reunited if a family member with permanent right of residency applies for the reunification and can prove the people on the application were a family unit before arrival and wish to live as a family unit since separation.XenophobiaOn international level, no universally accepted definition of xenophobia exists, though it can be described as “attitudes, prejudices and behaviour that reject, exclude and often vilify persons, based on the perception that they are outsiders or foreigners to the community, society or national identity”. Though what often is not being commented on, is the fact that this underlying “fear” is one of the reasons for the hostility against Mexicans in the US or Syrians in Europe, even though there often is no rational explanation, other than the fact that they’re “foreign”.Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish xenophobia from racism, it’s important to take steps to educate people about the benefits of migrants and the dire circumstances and desperate conditions which they flee, as this will go a long way to ease the tension. This might also stimulate the public to take action and change things in their own countries and communities and in this way help to reduce the inequalities (illegal) immigrants face.36242632200275 Sustainable development goal 10: reduced inequalities36242632200275381952513334Why illegally migrate?The first reason is seeking refuge, due to things like war or natural disasters. This includes the conflicts in the Middle-East, Afghanistan and South Sudan, as well as the some conflicts in Mexico. Refugees can also flee because of environmental factors, more than 42 million people were displaced in Asia and the Pacific during 2010 and 2011 and though this includes internally displaced people, this number will only increase with the climate change in the future.Another reason is simply seeking a better life. Often, families live in poverty and see migrating to Europe or the US as a better, or even the only option, as stated before. A Mexican citizen would earn his Mexican wage in threefold if he migrates to the US. Often parents want to get their children to get good education and grow up in a safe environment. Often these western countries are viewed as the ultimate solution, with no awareness of the dangers that come with traveling there.Major Countries and Organizations InvolvedThe United States of Americathe USA has been on the receiving end of many illegal immigrants from Central American countries such as Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua, as well as from further nations like India. Furthermore they have been building a wall to decrease illegal immigration, though it has been found controversial. More about this can be found in the possible solutions section. The European UnionDuring the Refugee Crisis in 2014, many Middle Eastern refugees tried to make it safely to Europe, to countries such as Germany or the UK. This posed a huge challenge and the conditions in which refugees fled were often below standard, in Greece and Turkey, the gates to Europe, many refugee camps were set up. The EU also had to cope with the many sloppy boats packed to the brim with refugees, trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.The United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesFounded in 1950, The UNHCR is a United Nations agency with the mandate to protect refugees, furthermore they have recently introduced several new programs to support and to heighten awareness of the issues faced by refugees around the world. The UNHCR also manages refugee camps in areas such as Africa or the Middle East, where they offer food and healthcare for international as well as internally displaced refugees.Venezuela“Venezuela’s refugee crisis is the ?largest in Latin American history?. Worldwide, it is now second only to that of Syria. A staggering ?four million? Venezuelans have fled their homeland, the majority since 2015. This number constitutes more than 12 percent of the country’s total population. Leaving behind a collapsed economy and mounting repression, over one million Venezuelans have fled since last November.”Timeline of EventsDateDescription of eventDecember 10?th?, 1948The proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, translated into more than 500 languages, sets out for the first time the human rights to be universally protected.July 28th 1951The 1951 Refugee Convention, that sets out the principle of non-refoulement, which is that we should not return refugees to their countries if they face threats to their life or freedom.October 4th, 1967The Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees is a key treaty in international refugee law, signed by 146 parties, though some nations prefer the 1951 treaty, and some only the 1967.December 2010Start of the Arab Spring, which in Syria later transforms into the Syrian civil war, Responsible for many refugees fleeing to Europe.2015Start of the European migrant crisis, in which many refugees tried to seek asylum in the EU, often by dangerous routes on the Mediterranean Sea, with overfull boats 2016Start of the Venezuelan Refugee crisis, the largest in Latin America and second only to the Syrian refugee crisis and more than 10% of the population has fled, due to causes like poverty corruption, crime or unemployment.Relevant UN Treaties and EventsUniversal Declaration of human rights, 10 December 1948 (A/RES/217A(III))Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 28 July 1951 (A/RES/429(V))Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, 4 October 1967 (A/RES/2198(XXI))New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, 19 September 2016 (A/RES/71/1)Assistance to refugees returnees and displaced persons in Africa, 27 Januari 2009 (A/RES/63/149)Rights of the child, 19 December 2006 (A/RES/61/146)Previous Attempts to solve the IssueNamed after the ancient Latin word for the Mediterranean Sea, Operation Mare Nostrum was launched by the Italian government, to tackle the increased immigration to Europe. The operation was active from October 2013 to November 2014, during which more than 150000 migrants, mostly from Africa and the Middle East, arrived safely in Europe. The Operation received financial support from the European commission and used the Italian Navy and the Italian Air Force.The Undocumented Migration Project (UMP) is a long-term anthropological study of clandestine movement between Latin America and the United States that uses ethnography, archaeology, visual anthropology, and forensic science to understand various aspects of unauthorized border crossings including the many forms of violence and suffering that characterize the process, the distinct experiences of migrant sub-populations (e.g., women, children, LGBT, non-Mexican nationals), and the evolving material culture associated with crossing.In the United States of America, president Donald Trump has proposed the idea of a wall set up along the Mexico-US border, though the effectiveness of this measure is still debated upon. Critics state that this wall would not stop illegal immigrants overstaying travel visas, using fraudulent documents, or stowing away. Supporters use other border fences as example, such as the Hungarian border barrier or the Israeli border walls, that have had a positive effect.Possible SolutionsThe problems illegal immigrants face can be split up into two categories, problems they face on their journey, and those after arriving. What’s important on the journey, is if there’s enough food and water, as well as proper transportation. On the Mediterranean the boats are below standard, and often sink. A possible solution might be an operation similar to Mare Nostrum, tracking and guiding these illegal immigrants, this would also help knowing how many refugees are coming through to Europe.For the harsh circumstances faced when traversing deserts or being stranded on borders, it’s important for these innocent people to be fed, and if needed being sended back to their own country. This could be done by setting up UN checkpoints along common migratory routes, though remembering these are still illegal immigrants is also important.The illegal immigrants who face issues are often not as noticeable, but are silently living and working below standard, earning less than minimum wage, or physically working in an unsafe environment. What’s important, is that they also have authorities to step to, even when lacking documents. This could be by an anonymous hotline in which the authorities only look at the conditions, and not the people.Bibliographyde Léon, Jason. “Background.” Undocumented Migration Project, 2017, background1.“Documentation, Reports, Resolutions, Decisions, Meeting Records.” United Nations, United Nations, research.en/docs/ga/quick/conventions.“General Assembly Resolutions.” United Nations, United Nations, en/sections/documents/general-assembly-resolutions/index.html.Hanson, Gordon. “.” The Economic Logic of Illegal Immigration, 26 Apr. 2007, academia.edu/6390087/http_citeseerx.ist.psu.edu_viewdoc_download_doi_10.1.1.401.8095_and_rep_rep1_and_type_pdf.“Infographics | Refugees and Migrants.” United Nations, United Nations, 2017, graphics.Kamarck, Elaine, and Christine Stenglein. “How Many Undocumented Immigrants Are in the United States and Who Are They?” Brookings, Brookings, 12 Nov. 2019, brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/how-many-undocumented-immigrants-are-in-the-united-states-and-who-are-they/.“Key Migration Terms.” International Organization for Migration, International Organization for Migration, 17 Jan. 2020, iom.int/key-migration-terms.“Migration.” United Nations, United Nations, en/sections/issues-depth/migration/index.html.“Reduce Inequality within and among Countries - United Nations Sustainable Development.” United Nations, United Nations, sustainabledevelopment/inequality/.“States Parties to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol .” United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees, 1951, protect/PROTECTION/3b73b0d63.pdf.“UN, United Nations, UN Treaties, Treaties.” United Nations, United Nations, treaties.Pages/Home.aspx.United Nations. “Mexico.” UNHCR, mexico.html.United Nations. “States Parties, Including Reservations and Declarations, to the 1951 Refugee Convention.” UNHCR, 1951, 5d9ed32b4.United Nations. “Venezuela Situation.” UNHCR, United Nations Educational Scientific and Curltural Orginisation, 2019, venezuela-emergency.html.“Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” United Nations, United Nations, en/universal-declaration-human-rights/.Warren, Robert. “US Undocumented Population Continued to Fall from 2016 to 2017, and Visa Overstays Significantly Exceeded Illegal Crossings for the Seventh Consecutive Year.” The Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS), 16 Jan. 2016, publications/essay-2017-undocumented-and-overstays/.“Xenophobia: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.” Xenophobia | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Educational Scientific and Curltural Orginisation, wayback.10611/20171126022534/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/international-migration/glossary/xenophobia/.“Operation Mare Nostrum” Wikipedia, en.wiki/Operation_Mare_Nostrum “Displacement: The New 21st Century.” United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees, 2013, irp/agency/dhs/fema/displace.pdf“Illegal Immigration.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Jan. 2020, en.wiki/Illegal_immigration#Illegal_border_crossing.“European Migrant Crisis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Jan. 2020, en.wiki/European_migrant_crisis. “Trends in International Migration, 2015.” United Nations, UNESCO, 2015, en/development/desa/population/migration/ publications/populationfacts/docs/MigrationPopFacts20154.pdf.Appendix or AppendicesInternational Organization for Migration: Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:: Illegal Immigration: York Times: Illegal Immigration:: Facilitation of Illegal Immigration ................
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