Preview

Refugees In Australia And Japan

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1144 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Refugees In Australia And Japan
In the modern world, the topic of refugees and asylum seekers is becoming an increasingly common point of interest. This is due to the trouble in places such as Syria, and other countries that have a population that are suffering in some way. Often asylum seekers are placed in a position of life or death. If they do not leave the country they are at risk of being persecuted in, they may die. However, attempting to enter other countries as a refugee can be dangerous, and very hard. Australia and Japan are two countries that have very different positions within the refugee crisis.
In Australia, the topic of the treatment and processing of refugees is often discussed. This is because it is a troublesome issue for the government, and the treatment
…show more content…
There are reports of child abuse, sexual abuse, threats, self-harm and psychological damage. Despite these reports, these claims have been dismissed by the government. This further displays the problems of Australia’s refugee policy. (Refugee Council of Australia, 2016)
In Japan, the viewpoint on asylum seekers and refugees has always been somewhat passive. The Japanese government is very selective about what refugees they allow into the country. The screening process for refugees is very strict in Japan. (Honma, n.d.)
Japan, like Australia, is a signatory to the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Despite their obligation to take in refugees based on cooperation with the UNHCR, they only take in a very small amount of refugees. For example, in 2012, only 0.56% of people who applied for refugee status in Japan were officially accepted as refugees. However, the Japanese government is more than willing to donate money to the UNHCR. In 2014, the government donated $181.6 million dollars to the UNHCR. Despite their financial support, they still do not take many refugees. (Pollman, 2015) (Wikipedia,
…show more content…
They are processed offshore, and will often spend a long time in the detention centres before finally being allowed entrance to Australia. The reports of abuse taking place in the offshore detention centre located in Nauru reveals the many issues of the Australian refugee policy. Despite Australia’s fair intake of refugees, there are a lot of issues with how it is done.
Japan takes in quite small amount of refugees in comparison to that of Australia’s intake. But this is due to how difficult it is to gain citizenship in Japan as a refugee, and how hard it is to assimilate into Japanese culture. There is also a language barrier issue. These things deter refugees from Japan. However, Japan is very charitable and is willing to cooperate with the UNHCR and donate to its cause.
Australia’s refugee policy is very poor. Despite the moderate intake, the process of it is bad. It is clear that the subject of asylum seekers and refugees is very hard to handle for the government, but they must do more. They should carefully analyse how they handle the process, listen and work with human rights groups, and try to find a solution to the processing issue. The ‘tough’ refugee policy is not appropriate, and is taking away the humans rights of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Migrant Hostel we are presented with the arrival of post-war migrants who’ve come from a war-torn Europe to Australia in hopes of starting a new life, however the reality is quickly…

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are many different views about refugees in Australian society, where illegal boat people and over flowing detention centres are a controversial problem today. Go Back To Where You Came From is a documentary directed by Ivan O’Mahoney about a social experiment that challenges the dominant views of six Australians about refugees and asylum seekers. These six Australians are taken on a 25 day journey where they are placed into the troubled “worlds” of refugees. For a few of the Australians it is their first time overseas but, for all of them it is the most challenging and confronting experience of their lives. This essay will discuss the codes and conventions used in this documentary to position and challenge the cultural assumptions and beliefs of the viewer.…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    This report was commissioned to examine the behaviours and beliefs held by Australians in regards to the people identified as asylum seekers who arrive in Australia in search of humanitarian aid.…

    • 1918 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    There have been numerous legal responses to asylum seekers in Australia, all of which have been ineffective in achieving fair outcomes for both Australian citizens and refugees seeking asylum in Australia. The basis for all legislation regarding refugees in Australia is the Migration Act 1958, which outlines powers such as being able to cap the number of refugees accepted into Australia each year, and defines a refugee as somebody “being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion”, which is written according to the United Nation’s definition.12 Since then a number of amendments and additions have been made to this act, including the Migration Amendment Act 1992, Pacific Solution, Migration Amendment (Abolishing Detention Debt) Act 2009 and the Regional Resettlement Arrangement (RRA) Australia and Papua New Guinea. All of these legal responses to the issue of asylum seekers in Australia have proven ineffective as they fail to achieve fair outcomes for either those seeking asylum in Australia or the present citizens of Australia.…

    • 1599 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    For most asylum seekers, arriving in Australia is a major shock. They are met with hostility and mandatory…

    • 1269 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The decision caused international backlash from other nations and the UN. Like, even North Korea, of all people said that they were "seriously concerned at the continued maltreatment of and violence against the refugees and asylum seekers." In 2015, a report submitted by the United Nations found that the treatment and "indefinite detention" of asylum seekers in Australia did not comply with its International Human Rights Obligations and was breaching international…

    • 490 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    * It is legal to seek asylum in Australia, even if you arrive on a boat without a visa. Asylum seekers are not breaking the rules - they are following the processes outlined in the UN Refugee Convention and Australian Migration…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    And numerous reports have shown that many asylum seekers are unaware of Australia’s domestic asylum policies, so the use of punishing policies has zero limiting effect. A clear example of the failure of punitive policies to prevent asylum seekers is the policy of Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs). The number of asylum seekers arriving by boat to Australia continued to increase after the introduction of temporary protection visas in 1999 (48% more asylum seekers arrived by boat in 2001 than in 1999). Asylum seekers arriving by boat only started decreasing in 2003 when global asylum numbers started dropping. This evidence strongly suggests that temporary protection visas have no value as a restriction to number of asylum seekers arriving by boat. The same rationale holds true for mandatory detention, introduced in…

    • 966 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    CBA Asylum Seekers

    • 3066 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Over the years the Australian Government has been noticing the upward trend in the numbers of people seeking refuge in Australia and other countries. Knowing that Australia is a large country, with a fairly low population compared to that of the other…

    • 3066 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Elysium Social Inequality

    • 1578 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Saul, B 2003,”From White Australia to Woomera: The story of Australian Immigration”, Journal Of Refugee Studies, 16, 4, pp. 449-450, SocINDEX with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 9 April 2014…

    • 1578 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Australia has a policy of mandatory detention for all refugees and asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Australian shores (http//www.westnet.com.au/jackhsmit/detention.htm).…

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Australia is the main target for such an influx of refugees and asylum seekers as we are known as the ‘Laid Back’ society and being so tolerant of such matters, therefore shaping a heavily multicultural society. This society creates new connections between people of all backgrounds in our Schools, our streets, our news and…

    • 995 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Refugee Monologue

    • 869 Words
    • 4 Pages

    To get refugee status you have to apply in a foreign aid tent near by the camp. There were always big lines and it could take days just to get your turn. Once you have your name down it takes a lot of paper work for the foreign aid workers to try and collect every ones details and see if you are eligible for refugee status. They conduct routine medical examinations there on the ones who are able to be placed in other countries to make sure that they are not carrying any diseases. My mother and brothers paper work took longer than mine, although they would not say why. I had to choose if I wanted to take what could be my only chance to get out of there, when they told me there was an opportunity for me to be placed in Australia. Only a select number of people are able to be taken, and Australia was said to be a very nice place, safe, but I did not want to leave my family. I decided I would rather stay and continue to look after my family but my mother told me I had to go. Chances like this do not come back again she said. I feel very guilty that I am here in Australia while I do not know if my family is safe or even alive back in the refugee camp in…

    • 869 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Effects Of Asylum Seekers

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Over the last five years asylum seeker numbers, which include families with children, have been on the rise in Australia. The Australian Human Rights Commission [AHRC] (2014, p. 29) claims that Australia breaches International Human Rights Law, due to factors such as regional processing, lack of proper resources and mandatory detention with no set duration. The current management of asylum seekers in detention may be having a detrimental impact on children physically, emotionally and mentally. Australian Law should align to the Convention on the Rights of the Child when considering children in detention.…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although refugees have existed throughout human history, the problem has assumed more importance in the 20th century. It is estimated that more than one hundred million persons have left their home country, since the outbreak of World War II. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees, the outstanding world refugee total exceeded twenty-six million in 1996.…

    • 595 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays