Who Is A Refugee?

Did you know that many people do not understand the difference between an asylum seeker, a refugee and a migrant! Read on to make sure that you do.

 

Asylum seekers are people:

• who have fled their own countries out of fear for their lives and liberty
• whose own governments have not protected them
• who try to find a safe place where they will be protected both legally and physically
• who apply for recognition as refugees.

The right of people experiencing persecution to seek and enjoy asylum in another country is a fundamental human right.

Vitran’s story

Vitran is an asylum seeker, he is 15 years old. He escaped from Sri Lanka with his family because of a vicious civil war. An attempt had been made to kill Vitran’s father because he had spoken out against the killing of innocent farmers in their district and it was dangerous for them to stay in their town.

Vitran's grandfather collected money from his entire family in order to help them to escape. They had to sell jewellery, furniture and a part of their small piece of land. A people smuggler took the family, first to Indonesia and then to Australia. Conditions were very bad in Indonesia, with insufficient food and water, and the family was very scared that they would be sent home and put in prison or even killed. Vitran’s father assured the family that it was worth the hardships because Australia is a country which believes in human rights and freedom.

The people smuggler made them destroy their identity documents because he was afraid of what might happen if they was caught. It was a long and dangerous journey. People were very sick and during a big storm they thought that the boat would sink and that they would drown. When the fishing boat arrived in Australian waters, the Australian Navy took the asylum seekers to the Port Hedland Detention Centre. Vitran’s father then applied for refugee status. The family were accepted as refugees, because it was recognised that they would be in great danger if they returned to Sri Lanka. Because they did not have visas to enter Australia they were only granted temporary protection for three years.

 

A refugee

is an asylum seeker who has been accepted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees or a friendly country as a refugee.

The United Nations defines refugees as: people who are outside their country of nationality or usual residence, and are unable or unwilling to return or to seek the protection of that country because of a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.

 

Many refugees cannot return home because the conditions which forced them to leave have not improved and they fear persecution.

Vera's Story

Vera came to Australia as a refugee from Bosnia in 1996. She is 20 years old. Her mother is Croatian and her father was Bosnian. During the civil war which raged in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990’s, families such as this were in particular danger. Vera’s father was killed while walking home from work. Soldiers came and trashed their house and burnt their furniture and belongings. Vera’s mother heard terrible stories about women and young girls being taken and raped. She decided to run to safety with Vera and her young brother before this happened to them. They lived for three months in a Refugee Camp, and then they were accepted by Australia for resettlement.

Their fares were paid and they were given assistance to settle into Australia when they arrived. Because she did not speak fluent English, Vera found it impossible to finish her schooling, even though she had planned to go to University in Bosnia. She had to help her mother and brother to settle into Australia and she quickly found a job in a factory. She is now doing English at TAFE and hope to resume her education next year and go on to fulfil her dream of University.

MIGRANTS are people who:
• make a conscious choice to leave their home to live in another country
• are able to plan their migration and take precious belongings with them
• can always go home if they choose to do so
• are mostly able to contact friends and relatives in their country of origin.

Gita and Paul

Gita and Paul are a young married couple who migrated to Australia from India. Paul is a computer programmer and Gita is a social worker. They have two young children. They were doing well in India, but when they heard that they might be able to come to Australia under the business migration scheme they thought that it would be a good for their children to grow up in a secure and multicultural society. They both enjoy travelling, and some of their family already live in Australia. Their letters spoke of the good life here and the opportunities for people who are prepared to work hard. It took two years for them to be accepted as migrants and they have now lived here for two years. They do miss their families, but they are very happy, both have found employment and they are planning a holiday in India next year.

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