Editorial: The condition of refugee: Subjective experiences and collective mobilizations
- By Karen Akoka,
- Olivier Clochard,
- Albena Tcholakova,
- Translated by: Katherine Booth,
- Alexandra Poméon O’Neill
Pages 7 to 21
Cite this article
- AKOKA, Karen,
- CLOCHARD, Olivier,
- TCHOLAKOVA, Albena,
- Translated by: BOOTH, Katherine,
- POMÉON O’NEILL, Alexandra,
- Akoka, Karen.,
- et al.
- Akoka, K.,
- Clochard, O.,
- Tcholakova, A.,
- Translated by: Booth, K.,
- Poméon O’Neill, A.
https://doi.org/10.4000/remi.8915
Cite this article
- Akoka, K.,
- Clochard, O.,
- Tcholakova, A.,
- Translated by: Booth, K.,
- Poméon O’Neill, A.
- Akoka, Karen.,
- et al.
- AKOKA, Karen,
- CLOCHARD, Olivier,
- TCHOLAKOVA, Albena,
- Translated by: BOOTH, Katherine,
- POMÉON O’NEILL, Alexandra,
https://doi.org/10.4000/remi.8915
Notes
-
[1]
For more details, see the letter dated 10 June 2014 by the three protagonists, “Letter of recognized refugees to UNHCR Representative for Southern Europe”, [online]. URL: https://kisa.org.cy/10-06-2014-letter-of-recognized-refugees-to-unhcr-representative-for-southern-europe/
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[2]
In France, the websites run by the associations Forum Réfugiés and France Terre d’Asile have presentations of the AccelAir refugee integration programme and the activities of the Observatoire de l’intégration des réfugiés (Refugee Integration Observatory) respectively. UNHCR publications (2013a and 2013b) focus on the integration of these populations into host societies in European countries, with particular attention paid to accommodation measures. See also the work carried out by the association Singa France in supporting refugees (particularly in relation to business development initiatives).
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[3]
The Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford plays a leading role. See also the work developed at York University in Toronto and the Refugee Policy Group in Washington DC, to mention just a few of the academic centres.
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[4]
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, Holy See, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
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[5]
It should be recalled that, according to the UNHCR, the number of people uprooted throughout the world as a result of conflict and persecution amounted to 65.6 million at the end of 2016. The number of refugees is estimated at nearly 22.5 million (i.e. people who have crossed an international border) and the number of displaced persons at nearly 40.3 million (i.e. people who have found refuge inside their country). In addition to these, there are an estimated 5.3 million Palestinian refugees under UNWRA’s mandate.
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[6]
Belorgey Jean-Michel, Le droit d’asile, bouc émissaire des anti immigrationnistes, 28 April 2014, [online]. URL: http://ecritures-et-societe.over-blog.com/article-le-droit-d-asile-bouc-emissaire-des-anti-immigrationnistes-123462508.html
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[7]
Field notes (January 2014) from interviews in Cyprus by Karen Akoka and Olivier Clochard.
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[8]
Decisions made at first instance (source: Eurostat database consulted in June 2018).
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[9]
European Parliament, Tampere European Council, 15 and 16 October 1999, [online]. URL: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/summits/tam_en.htm
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[10]
Figures extracted in May 2018 from the Eurostat database.
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[11]
Laura Boldrini, UNHCR spokesperson in Italy, in a New York Times article dated 21 December 2012 by Élisabetta Povoledo, “The Italian Paradox on Refugees”.
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[12]
Commissioner on Human Rights, 18 September 2012, “Italy needs to speed up court proceedings and improve the treatment of Roma and migrants”.
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[13]
Source: interview with Alessandra Capodanno, Migreurop, 11 February 2014.
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[14]
The website of the General Inspectorate for Immigration states that foreigners who have obtained a form of protection from the Romanian State can obtain a residence permit to prove their identity and leave the country. In order to apply for this, they must provide evidence that their residence is in Romania (title deed, rental contract registered with the tax administration, authenticated accommodation certificate or any valid document from the Romanian administration that proves payment of an allowance).
On Wednesday 8 January 2014, a tent surrounded by banners with various slogans was set up in front of the main entrance of the Cypriot Ministry of the Interior in Nicosia (see Photograph 1). Three people who had been recognised as refugees in Cyprus for almost ten years had been on hunger strike for several weeks; they were asking the authorities to grant them rights similar to those of Cypriots, to take action against the discrimination they face and in favour of the right to naturalisation. A few days later an oral agreement was reached between the refugees, a UNHCR official and a representative of the Ministry of the Interior, but time passed, and their situation did not change. Six months later, they resumed their hunger strike and again refused to drink water. Given the life-threatening risk faced by these bodies in resistance in the middle of the Cypriot summer, the authorities finally agreed to their demands.The view of refugee status as the outcome, even the final destination, of a long and painful process is widespread. However, as shown by the example of the Cypriot refugees mentioned above and by certain scientific, institutional and associative studies, this perception warrants some qualification. Are the difficulties experienced during the months or even years of processing asylum applications really such as to cease with access to a legal status, even when it appears to provide strong protection and to generate rights? What can attention to the difficulties and resources available in the neglected “post-recognition” period teach us about the substance of refugee status…
Publisher keywords: experiences and social practices, mobilisation, qualifed refugees
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Uploaded: 09/18/2018
https://doi.org/10.4000/remi.8915