Page 10 - Luce 2023

I nternational Perspective

Refugee

protection:
principled

pragmatism

In 2017 I ended my term as
President of the Australian
Human Rights Commission
in Sydney – after a rather
stormy ride – and with my
husband Alan, returned to Melbourne to retire and lick a few
wounds. At least that was the idea…
Above and right: In the Republic of Mozambique for a field
Over the next two years I caught up with family and friends, mission in March 2021.
returned to my book group of over 40 years, joined the
Melbourne Theatre Company, cleaned out the cupboards, century people live and die in abject poverty, violence, and
wrote a book, and brought the garden under control. Then I persecution, yet so little is done to protect them. I was angry
received a phone call. Would I come to Geneva as a United that a government was more concerned about security of its
Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant High borders than the plight of its citizens, where precious funds
Commissioner for Protection with the UN Refugee Agency were spent on military equipment not food and where those
(UNHCR)? At 74 this might not be everyone’s dream, but for seeking protection across borders are pushed back to danger.
me it was an opportunity, finally, to join the UN and to be part International law and refugee rights seemed to have little
of the global effort to protect those fleeing war, persecution, relevance in practice.
and discrimination.
Since my first mission to Mozambique, I have undertaken
My story begins at Janet Clark Hall where I was in residence missions to over 30 countries – Afghanistan, Ukraine, Niger,
for four years from 1964 to 1967 in a community of 100 or so Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece,
young women. Each day I walked through the Trinity College Turkiye … the list continues to grow. This year, UNHCR
‘bull paddock’ braving the stares of inmates. At the Melbourne reported that over 100 million people were forcibly displaced
Law School I learned about the United Nations Charter and from their villages and homes, nearly half of them children.
the Declaration of Human Rights and was captivated by the Most refugees have fled war, conflict, and persecution.
idea that international law could ensure peace and respect for Many also seek protection from criminal gangs, poverty, and
all without discrimination. discrimination and, increasingly, many are displaced by the
multiplier effects of climate change.
Fast forward to 2020 in Mozambique where I learned
first-hand that the international rule of law was at best It is now three years since I joined the UN Refugee Agency and
an aspiration in this land of violence, poverty, ethnic and I have learned a great deal. Most importantly, I have learned
religious conflict, and rich natural resources. With my that, despite global crises of pandemics and war, despite the
UNHCR colleagues, I had come to Mozambique to support misery of forced displacement, real progress can be, and often
the Government in its efforts to protect about 850,000 of its is, being made globally to protect the most vulnerable.
people from jihadist armed groups fighting in the northern
state of Cabo Delgado. In UN jargon, these people are ‘IDPs’, It is a paradox that the senseless war in Ukraine has
or internally displaced. In harsh reality, they are thousands demonstrated that the right to seek asylum remains one of the
of women, men, and children who have fled from burning most enduring principles of international law and arguably
villages, rape, machete attacks, and death. I was taken to one of the most important. Today, there are over seven million
a camp several hours drive from Maputo to a muddy field Ukrainians displaced within the country and six and a half
where families were struggling to survive with plastic sheets million seeking asylum in Europe and across the world. For
for shelter, no school or medical services, foraging in the the first time, the EU has activated its temporary protection
surrounding land for vegetables to cook. I sat on the ground directive, granting refuge to millions of Ukrainians for up
with some women to hear their stories and met many to three years, and including refugee children in schools,
much older women nursing babies. I asked ‘where are their families in social and health services and allowing freedom of
mothers?’ The parents were killed in the massacres, I was movement and access to work. Such a warm welcome was a
told. I saw grandmothers trying to comfort their grandchildren surprise. Just months before, the EU ministers of Home Affairs
with dry breasts. There was no milk and the last delivery of were telling the UN Refugee Agency that Europe was ‘full’, and
food had been many weeks before. The host community was that they could not accept refugees crossing the Mediterranean
trying to help by adding an extension to the local school, fleeing conflicts in Asia and Africa. We hope that this global
but their welcome was wearing thin as the numbers in need best practice will be sustainable and inspire other political
expanded, with no solutions in sight. leaders to follow.

I left the camp in a convoy of white United Nations bullet- Colombia provides yet another example of national
proof cars, protected by security officers flourishing compassion to those displaced. The government has granted a
Kalashnikov rifles, and handed some food for my return ten-year temporary protection visa, work rights and inclusion
journey. Within a few hours’ flight I was in Paris. I find in education and health care for millions of Venezuelans. A
it incomprehensible that in this third decade of the 21st pathway to citizenship is also available.
10 LUCE Number 21 2022