Supporting the Social Inclusion of Refugees
MMW 2021 Background Guide
Committee Introduction
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the UN’s Agency for
insurance of the refugees’ protection, including providing assistance and services to the
persons facing plights such as the internally displaced and stateless worldwide. It is
responsible for shelter administration, repatriation, resettlement, safeguarding of the
individuals, and fostering the self-sufficiency of refugees.1 UNHCR has been entrusted with
expediting collaboration between relevant countries, civil society actors, and NGOs (non-
governmental organizations) to improve the livelihoods and social rights of refugees.
Setting and History
The growth in the number of immigrants pursuing migrant or asylum status in Europe, with a
total number of more than 1 million, was caused by the political conflict in the Middle East,
Africa, and South Asia in 2015. The number of illegal border-crossing detections in the EU
began to surge in 2011, yet the multitude of immigrants entering European countries via
illegitimate pathways is estimated to be greater than 2.3 million in 2015 and 2016 alone.
Most of these immigrants came from Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian nations and
were fleeing instability and violence in their region. 2
At the end of 2020, there were 82.4 million displaced people in the world, and according to
the UNHCR, a quarter of these are refugees. With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting lives
on every front imaginable, and the number of refugees continuously increasing, how
countries deal with the fallout of the past decade’s refugee crisis, and the integration of
refugees in their new communities will undoubtedly shape the future of worldwide refugee
policies.
Topic Introduction
Social inclusion is a process that helps people who have been displaced by war or persecution
to rebuild their lives. This process is usually done by allowing refugees to have the same
rights as citizens, forging ties and friendships, applying for local jobs or go to local schools,
and having access to different services like housing or healthcare. These basic human rights
allow them to participate in their communities and contribute to society.
1UNHCR. “official website of UNHCR.” https://www.unhcr.org/. Accessed 14 July 2021.
2UNHCR. “2015: The year of Europe’s refugee crisis.”
https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2015/12/56ec1ebde/2015-year-europes-refugee-crisis.html. Accessed 14
July 2021.
Social inclusion requires a belief that we have more in common than that which divides us.
Unfortunately, not all communities share this belief, and they often reject groups that do not
come from the same ethnicity, culture, and religion as their own. This is the primary reason
why refugees still face opposition that prevents them from interacting in social, economic,
and political settings in the countries that they live in.
Below are four of the most common problems refugees are forced to deal with daily.
Social Cohesion(團體凝聚力) with Host Communities
Xenophobia(仇外主義) is often linked to a belief in a world order where one's nation-state
is superior to others. As a result, refugees and migrants may be perceived as a threat to the
local culture, economy, and security by locals. This can lead to social exclusion and even to
violence on some extreme occasions. Many approaches have been used to combat
xenophobia toward refugees and migrants, each with varying results. In 2001, for instance, at
the World Conference against Racism held in South Africa, the Durban Declaration and
longitudinalProgramme of Action was signed, which committed to tackling racism and
xenophobia on a national and international level.3 Apart from the UN, many non-
governmental organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other
civil society actors have promoted programs that foster peaceful coexistence and tolerance
through social dialogue and awareness campaigns.
Efforts to support language acquisition are also key steps to fighting against concerns over
xenophobia and addressing social cohesion. Once linguistic barriers are removed, states can
set up programs or promote regional activities that enhance mutual understanding between
residents and refugees. Platforms to share personal stories of refugees, such as No Strange
Place4 by UNHCR, can bring the positive effect of hosting refugees to the public. It
contributes to resolving the tensions and building personal ties. Better access to education
may also help the scenario, as research5 has found that refugees with higher education levels
are more likely to foster deeper connections with locals.
Inclusion in the Education System
Education is key to brighter futures for refugee children, as higher education can often lead to
a better life. By giving refugees knowledge and skills, education protects refugee children
and youth from forced recruitment into armed groups, child labor, sexual
exploitation(性剝削), and child marriage. Education also allows refugees to enter the labor
market and become economically self-sufficient, and help them escape from poverty and
indignance.
3 UN. “World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.” 7
September 2001, https://www.un.org/WCAR/durban.pdf.
4 UNHCR. “No Stranger Place.” https://www.unhcr.org/no-stranger-place.html. Accessed 14 July 2021.
5 Relief Web. “Social cohesion in Turkey: refugees and the host community - Online survey findings rounds 1-
5, July 2020.” 10 August 2020, https://reliefweb.int/report/turkey/social-cohesion-turkey-refugees-and-host-
community-online-survey-findings-rounds-1-5.
However, refugees’ access to education is extremely limited; of the 7.1 million refugee
children of school age, 3.7 million do not go to school.6 Without proper funding,7 only 63
percent of refugee children get to attend primary school, compared to 91 percent globally.
Around the world, 84 percent of adolescents get a secondary education, while only 24 percent
of refugees get the opportunity.
After the adoption of the New York Declaration, on 20 September 2016, the UN Secretary-
General and seven Member States co-hosted the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees to raise
awareness and enhance the global responsibility-sharing for the refugees. At the summit, 47
countries pledged to change laws or policies to increase refugees’ access to education, legal
employment, and social services; substantially increase humanitarian assistance; and expand
access to third-country solutions, including through resettlement or supplementary pathways. 8
UNHCR has long advocated for the reformation of the educational system and the integration
of refugee-related content into the textbooks of future generations. Other extracurricular
activities or programs that have a positive impact on mental health can serve as additional
measures. It is crucial for refugees to learn the host country’s official language, as the
language barrier is one of the major obstacles when seeking higher education and job
opportunities in the future.
For more guidance, check the UNHCR report on the educational inclusion of refugees9,
which tells the stories of the 7.1 million refugee children of school age and also provides data
on refugee enrolments.
Ensure Equitable Healthcare Access
Many refugees embark on long and arduous journeys to seek refuge. Their vulnerability to
diseases and mental health issues increases as they do not have adequate funds to get proper
treatment. Quality health services are often the first step to contributing to the development of
a refugee community.
At the World Health Assembly in 2019 Members States agreed on a five-year global action
plan to promote the health of refugees and migrants. The plan aims to achieve universal
health coverage, including the highest attainable standard of health for refugees, migrants,
and host populations.10 The Global Compact on Refugees and the 2030 Agenda for
6 UNHCR. “Stepping Up: Refugee Education in Crisis.” https://www.unhcr.org/steppingup/. Accessed 13 July
2021.
7United Nations Fundation. “5 REASONS TO CARE ABOUT EDUCATION FOR REFUGEES.” 23
November 2016, https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/5-reasons-to-care-about-education-for-refugees/.
8 UNHCR. “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.” https://www.unhcr.org/new-york-declaration-
for-refugees-and-migrants.html. Accessed 14 July 2021.
9 UNHCR. “Stepping Up: Refugee Education in Crisis.” https://www.unhcr.org/steppingup/. Accessed 13 July
2021.
10 WHO. “Refugee and migrant health.” https://www.who.int/health-topics/refugee-and-migrant-health.
Accessed 14 July 2021.
Sustainable Development include the strategy aiming at advocating for the inclusion of
refugees into national health systems, through UNHCR’s advocacy(提倡), funding, and
support, refugees benefit from increased access to healthcare in the areas, involved the
improvement on primary healthcare, community health, vaccinations, etc.11
States can enhance their healthcare system capacity to meet the growing needs of health
resources, including the permission of temporary residency and related documentation to
guarantee asylum seekers(避難者) obtain necessary treatments, which are significant
steps toward the integration and inclusion of refugees. In the context of COVID-19, these
policies or temporary programs should take COVID-related vaccines, diagnostics, and
therapeutics into account.
Livelihoods and Economic Inclusions
After fleeing war or persecution, the opportunity of a job offer and income are the most
effective ways people can rebuild their lives with dignity and peace. Without a secure job,
many refugees are unable to successfully integrate into society. Finding stable earnings could
also ensure safety by protecting them from exploitation by criminal organizations, or securing
gender equality by the empowerment of financial-independent women. In addition to this,
most refugees do not have access to basic financial services, i.e: Not being able to start a
bank account. This makes it even more difficult for refugees to start businesses or borrow
money.
While the right of refugees to work is embedded in the 1951 Refugee Convention, most
member states do not recognize the rights of refugees to work legally or benefit from labor
protections, for the reasons of refugees is further hindered(阻礙) by restrictions on their
movement, a lack of access to education, restrictions on rights concerning housing and land,
and a lack of access to business-crucial services such as banking and training.12 UNHCR
supports those forced to flee their homeland by promoting their economic ability and
advocating for their right to work. 13
States could consider measures to incentivize private sectors to employ refugees, for instance,
via tax reduction. In the case of MADE5114, a global brand of artisanal home décor and
accessories crafted by refugees and developed by UNHCR. MADE51 demonstrates a market-
based model for the economic inclusion of refugees. Another key element to remove
hindrance to refugees’ pursuing careers is civil registration. Lack of civil registration often
limits the ability of refugees to open bank accounts or receive financial services.
11 UNHCR. “Access to Healthcare.” https://www.unhcr.org/access-to-healthcare.html. Accessed 13 July 2021.
12 UNHCR. “ECONOMIC INCLUSION OF REFUGEES.” https://www.unhcr.org/5df9f0bc7.pdf. Accessed
14 July 2021.
13 UNHCR. “Supporting the social inclusion of refugees.”
https://www.unhcr.org/events/campaigns/5fc126354/supporting-social-inclusion-refugees.html. Accessed July
2021.
14 UNHCR. “Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion.” https://www.unhcr.org/livelihoods.html. Accessed 14 July
2021.
Governments can bridge a broad range of stakeholders through collaborative policies,
combine resources, and in return, boost economic growth in the long term.
Key Actors
The European Union
The attitudes toward border control policies vary among member states of the EU. Germany
has one of the highest levels of support for accepting refugees and asylum seekers. The Basic
Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, Article 16a stipulates that “ Persons persecuted on
political grounds shall have the right of asylum”15. In Portugal, the National Healthcare
Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde, or SNS) is accessible to all people. Asylum seekers and
citizens with a refugee status have free access to the healthcare system on the condition of a
certificate of an asylum application or a valid temporary residence permit. 16
Despite these efforts, a division persists in the EU. Some member states refuse to take in any
refugee, such as Hungary. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation. During the virus
outbreak, Greece used tear gas and violence against refugees trying to cross the border.
Athens also blocked asylum applications, an action that was criticized by the European
Commission.17 There is still significant room for improvement in terms of refugee policies.
United States of America
The United States has always been a global leader in the resettlement of refugees. Since the
adoption of the Refugee Act in 1980 to incorporate this definition of refugee into the INA
(Immigration and Nationality Act), the United States has already accepted more than 3.1
million refugees. 18 It contributed to the formulation of the modern American refugee
resettlement plan. Moreover, former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have
different ideas on implementing refugee policies. Therefore, great changes have taken place
in the United States in implementing its refugee policies.
President Joe Biden terminated the "Remain in Mexico" program initiated during the Trump
administration. The "Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)" was also canceled, allowing
11,000 immigrants to apply for asylum to enter the United States. In addition, he also raised
the maximum refugee resettlement from 15,000 to 62,50019 and canceled the plan to quickly
repatriate migrants during the epidemic. Delegates should pay attention to the national
position.
15 German Bundestag. “The Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany (Grundgesetz für die
Bundesrepublik Deutschland)”. 28 March 2019, https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf.
16 European Commision. “Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion.” https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?
catId=1125&langId=en&intPageId=4736. Accessed 14 July 2021.
17 Saragerova, Boryana. “EU: Recent Migrant Influx Questions The Block’s Policy.” 28 September 2020,
https://globalriskinsights.com/2020/09/eu-recent-migrant-influx-questions-the-blocks-policy/.
18 US Department of States. “Refugee Admissions”. https://www.state.gov/refugee-admissions/ Accessed 14
July 2021.
19 Kira Monin, Jeanne Batalova, and Tianjian Lai. “Refugees and Asylees in the United States”. May 13 2021,
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/refugees-and-asylees-united-states-2021.
Turkey
Turkey is the largest recipient and resettlement country for Syrian refugees due to its
geographical proximity. Hosting nearly 3.7 million refugees, Turkey receives the most
refugees in the world. 20
In response to the migration crisis in 2015, on March 18, 2016, Turkey signed the EU-Turkey
Agreement21, adopting a “one-for-one” approach. The EU will accept a Syrian refugee from
Turkey while repatriating refugees who entered the border illegally to Turkey. The approach
attempts to encourage refugees to apply for asylum through formal routes rather than to
smuggle. The refugee response is grounded in a comprehensive legal framework, including
the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (LFIP, 2013) and the Provisional
Protection Regulation (2014).22
However, upon ratifying the 1951 Refugee Convention, Turkey retained the geographical
limitation. It means that only persons who come from a “European country of origin” qualify
for refugee status under LFIP.23 For more information, look for the Asylum Information
Database.
Uganda
Uganda is one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa, over 1.4 million refugees are
sheltered. Since December 2013, when South Sudan’s crisis erupted in Juba, about 4 million
South Sudanese have been displaced, 2.26 million have fled to neighboring countries, with
1.67 million people being internally displaced.24 The refugee population makes up 3.1 % of
the country's total population of 47 million. Most refugees are from South Sudan (61.6 %),
28.9 % are from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and 3.4% are from Burundi.25
The 208 refugee aid organizations in Uganda have recently had their operations suspended by
the Ugandan government. The organizations were put on hold due to their inability to follow
Ugandan regulations. Only 69 aid organizations are now permitted to assist Uganda's 1.4
million refugees. Tensions between Uganda and refugee aid organizations have recently
arisen.26
20 UNHCR. “Refugee Population Statistics Database”. 18 June 2021, https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/.
21 Philippe Perchoc. “EU-Turkey Agreement & Action Plan”. 20 November 2019,
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-towards-a-new-policy-on-migration/file-eu-turkey-
statement-action-plan.
22 UNHCR. “TURKEY FACT SHEET”. February 2021,
https://www.unhcr.org/publications/operations/60d0956a10/bi-annual-fact-sheet-2021-02-turkey.html?
query=turkey.
23 Asylum Information Database. “INTRODUCTION TO THE ASYLUM CONTEXT IN TURKEY.” 31 May
2021, https://asylumineurope.org/reports/country/turkey/introduction-asylum-context-turkey/.
24 UNHCR. “South Sudan and Uganda Refugee Crisis.” https://www.unhcr.org/hk/en/south-sudan-and-
uganda-refugee-crisis. Accessed 21 July 2021.
25UNHCR. “Uganda Comprehensive.” https://data2.unhcr.org/en/country/uga. Accessed 21 July 2021.
26 d'Orsi, Cristiano. “Why Uganda has suspended hundreds of refugee aid agencies.” 13 September 2020,
https://theconversation.com/why-uganda-has-suspended-hundreds-of-refugee-aid-agencies-145708.
Venezuela and South America
The situation in Venezuela is one of the largest forced migrations in the western hemisphere.
Due to political upheaval and a bitter power struggle between the elected president Nicolás
Maduro and leader of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó27. In 2012, Nicolás Maduro was
elected president of Venezuela after his socialist mentor and predecessor in office, Hugo
Chávez died. The economy quickly began to freefall due to many of his socialist policies, and
in 2016, many Venezuelans began fleeing the country due to corruption, violence, and
poverty. The estimated number of migrants who have fled Venezuela is 5.4 million.
according to the UNHCR.28
The majority of those leaving have crossed into
neighboring Colombia, from where some move on
to Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, while others have gone
south to Brazil.
Of the 5.4 million people who have left Venezuela
in the last 4 years, nearly 2 million have chosen to
resettle in Columbia. On April 16th, 2021, the
Colombian government granted Venezuelan
migrants temporary protected status for 10 years.
Nearly one million Venezuelan refugees are affected
by this new policy. 29
South Sudan
According to the Global Trends Report on displacement issued by the UN refugee agency
(UNHCR), the number of refugees from South Sudan ranks among the top five in the world.
There are about 2.2 million refugees who originate from South Sudan.30 Within the border,
nearly 2 million people have been displaced, while outside of the boundary, more than 2
million South Sudanese refugees are currently homeless, mainly in Ethiopia, Sudan, and
Uganda. 31 The main composition of the refugees is women and children. Many of them fled
the border alone.
At the end of 2013, a coup broke out in the Republic of South Sudan. This is also one of the
reasons for causing refugees in South Sudan. South Sudan intended to reduce the fighting by
27BBC. “Venezuela crisis: How the political situation escalated.” 3 December 2020,
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36319877.
28 UNHCR. “Venezuela situation.” https://www.unhcr.org/venezuela-emergency.html. Accessed 22 July 2021.
29 Frydenlund, Erika, et al. “Colombia gives nearly 1 million Venezuelan migrants legal status and right to
work.” 15 April 2021, https://theconversation.com/colombia-gives-nearly-1-million-venezuelan-migrants-legal-
status-and-right-to-work-155448.
30 UNHCR. “Refugee Population Statistics Database”. https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/. Accessed 18
June 2021
31 UNHCR. “South Sudan emergency”. https://www.unhcr.org/south-sudan-emergency.html?query=South
%20Sudan. Accessed 31 July 2020
signing an agreement, which is the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in
South Sudan (R-ARCSS) on 12 September 2018.32
Bangladesh
The Rohingya population is Muslim minorities in Myanmar, who is denied citizenship under
the 1982 Myanmar nationality law. By 2021, 1.1 million stateless Rohingya refugees have
fled Myanmar, and over 90 percent of them now live in Bangladesh.33 Due to a share of
religion and similar ethnic background, the local community in Bangladesh accepted
Rohingya people warmly at the start. However, the political uncertainty has changed the host
communities’ response throughout the past few years.
The Rohingya are now facing pushback from the Cox’s Bazar community, where close to
900,000 refugees now reside in. With their arrival, the already struggling poor locals have to
compete in the unskilled labor market. As refugees are often willing to offer service at lower
wages, the daily wage in Cox’s Bazar region has dropped from 500~600 Tk to 200~250 Tk
per day.34 A lot more factors contribute to the escalating tensions, including the ongoing
pandemic, unequal access to humanitarian aid, push-up prices of essentials, etc.
Far back in 2015, the Bangladesh government proposed the “Ashrayan-3 scheme”35 to tackle
the issue. The scheme aims to relocate Rohingya refugees to Bhashan Char, a remote, flood-
prone island in the Bay of Bengal. The Bangladesh government claims that the island
provides shelter, healthcare, and livelihoods facility. On the other hand, multiple NGOs have
reported security abuses and forced displacement of Rohingya refugees, who called Bhashan
Char “An Island Jail in the Middle of the Sea”.36 The military coup in Myanmar, February
2021, further worsen the situation, with the same general who carried out genocide toward
the Rohingya population taking charge. A comprehensive solution is in urgent need for
Rohingya people.
Question to Consider
1. What is your country's stance on this issue?
a. To countries dealing with an inundation of refugees, what is your
32 IGAD. “Signed Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan”.
https://igad.int/programs/115-south-sudan-office/1950-signed-revitalized-agreement-on-the-resolution-of-the-
conflict-in-south-sudan. Accessed 12 September 2018
33 USA for UNHCR. “Refugee Statistics.” https://www.unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/statistics/. Accessed 22
July 2021.
34 Ansar, Anas, and Abu Faisal Md. Khaled. “From solidarity to resistance: host communities’ evolving
response to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.” 9 July 2021,
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41018-021-00104-9.
35 German Institute for Global and Area Studies. “After Humanitarianism: Bangladesh’s Evolving Rohingya
Policy.” October 2020, https://www.giga-hamburg.de/en/publications/21686266-after-humanitarianism-
bangladesh-evolving-rohingya-policy/.
36 Human Rights Watch. “An Island Jail in the Middle of the Sea.” 7 June 2021,
https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/06/07/island-jail-middle-sea/bangladeshs-relocation-rohingya-refugees-
bhasan-char.
country's objective in this conference? Please consider the public's
conceptions and the economic and social impacts refugees have
effectuated on your society.
b. To countries that precipitate refugees, what aid does your country
require?
2. Has your country legislated regulations concerning the assistance of refugees?
3. How could your resolution support the social inclusion of refugees in terms of
healthcare, economic, education, and social cohesion?
