All Asylum Seekers Research Paper

The united nations, a union of countries founded in 1948 have strived to achieve rights for all of civilisation through the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’, over the course of its founding it has achieved this goal in substantial ways, allowing for individual freedom and liberty of children previously enslaved, discriminated and stripped of rights. But has also been unsuccessful to promote and allow freedom for the many people still stripped of their rights in countries that are a part of its organisation.

The UN’s main key principles in which it tries to practice it ways is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or UDHR. The main principles of the UDHR are based on the freedom and equality for all, as seen in Article 1 - All
human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. The UN’s other key principle is article 3, it states “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” These articles are fundamental key principles of the UDHR a strong, idealistic and persistent Declaration of Human Rights for All.

Child slavery and trafficking has long been one of the worlds struggling points and biggest injustices. Sexual, physical and forced marriage enslavery has affected millions and destroys generations and dehumanised children and has resurged in recent years. The positive actions and awareness of the UN has saved generations and has provided freedom and hope for children in third world countries. To exempt children that are enslaved, The UN declared in the UDHR “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms” (“Universal declaration of human rights,” n.d.) This singular statement from Article 4 has freed many and has maintained this standard in almost all the UN. Also stated (Millions of people, men, woman and children all over the world would turn to it for help). An example of these statements can be seen in African country’s such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameron, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Nigeria and Togo. The UN worked with the International Labour Organisation and created the “International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour” (1999) and launched a program entitled “Combating the trafficking in children for labour exploitation in West and Central Africa”. This act created education and signage that taught family’s how to spot slavery and how to avoid it and report its activity in their community. It also helped the governments affected rescue large numbers of minors enslaved and create laws which restrict children from traveling across borders to neighbouring countries to limit the speed in which trafficking occurred. Added security on the country’s border helped to enforce this rule. The UN also created awareness of the issue by promoting it, growing awareness and funding for Anti-Slavery organisations. The rise in modern slavery in third world countries has shown the UN’s strength and success in protecting the children with no voice and largely breaking the cycle of slavery and influencing the generations to come.

Asylum seekers have long been a debated topic for Australia, it’s tough policies for those who wish to enter the country illegally and the resilience of its people has been one of its greatest challenges.
But when the treatment of the Asylum Seekers in its detention centres becomes so severe and criminal like, the UN’s weak efforts to intervene has become one of its failing points. The UN Quotes – (Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person). In the early 2000’s a widespread amount of Asylum seekers arrived by boats, the Australian Government was unprepared and needed a ‘short term’ plan to house of move the seekers to a permanent home or locatiom. Although over time the lack of attention created a backlog of people within the camps and the harm of Asylum seekers was unnoticed. Due to the horrible conditions and small confinements insanity flourished within the detention centres walls. These events caused mass amounts of attempted suicide and hunger strikes and overtime greatly worried the Australian people and the UN because nothing seemed to be done in regards to the issue. The UN decided to investigate the detention centres and decided - (Australia was creating widespread depression among asylum seekers by holding them indefinitely) After this statement widespread criticism came, especially from nations apart of the UN who believed the conditions violated the agreements set forth in the UDHR. A man first-hand experience of Christmas island told by a friend quotes - They are still treating the detainees like dogs. He's not doing well mentally and to be honest, I'm scared he's going to break and commit suicide soon." Powell, G. (2015, November
15)
Many wonder why there wasn’t much more influence or pressure by the UN and to why the nations apart of the organisation did not take further action by requesting more investigations or to help the refugees or create better systems to manage the destruction, violence and insecurity that occurred/occurring on the detention centres/islands. The UN’s effort to help or challenge Australia and change or help its growing refugee crisis and treatment of asylum seekers has ultimately failed, a way the UDHR even in a country apart of its union would not provide to people in great need.

While the UN is an idealistic union it ultimately succeeds promoting equality in the UDHR in some areas but fails in others. As seen the limits of its force or action can be its main downfall. While in some situations it thrives to succeed the UDHR.

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