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I nternational Perspective

Côte d’Ivoire has been peaceful for years and hundreds is Burkina Faso? Where is the border between Chad and
of thousands of refugees in West and Central Africa have Cameroon? What is the legal status of Transnistria in Moldova?
recently returned home. One of my best memories is I had much to learn.
travelling on a raft across the river between Liberia and
Côte d’Ivoire with 250 Ivorians, women, men, and children, The UN is undoubtedly hierarchical and cumbersome. It
returning home to safety. In 40-degree heat we were took me some time to understand the ‘in house’ protocols
welcomed on the bank of the river by local officials with and acronyms. I am trying, perhaps in a very Australian way,
flowers, and by a witch doctor banging drums. The joy of to encourage clearer communications to explain refugee
being back in their own country was wonderful to see. needs and to deal directly with local communities who are
often the first to respond to crises. I am convinced, however,
In short, the asylum system, agreed after the Second World that the work of the UN Refugee Agency is meaningful and
War for about two million displaced people, remains viable largely effective. To misquote Winston Churchill, the UN
70 years after the Refugee Convention was agreed in 1951. international humanitarian system is greatly flawed, but better
Refugee law is, nonetheless, under strain, with unprecedented than all the alternatives!
numbers seeking protection. Challenges to the right to claim
asylum continue to mount, not least with the adoption by The vision for international protection of refugees or those
the United Kingdom of Australia’s ‘Pacific solution’, to send who are stateless is set out in the Global Compact on
refugees offshore to Rwanda for processing. Externalisation Refugees, inspired by the Obama administration in 2017. The
to another country of the obligation to ensure refugees can compact is written in plain English. It is not a legal, but rather
claim asylum breaches international law and exacerbates the an aspirational, document that commits us all – national and
reality that over 80% of refugees are hosted in the poorest or local governments, faith groups, NGOs, parliamentarians,
developing countries in the global South. city mayors and scholars – to share responsibility for refugees.
COVID-19 has taught us that we are ‘in this together’ and that
It is one thing to know something of refugee protection in we are so much more effective when we collaborate.
Australia and the Asia Pacific, as I did, but quite another to
take on the UNHCR protection role throughout the world. We aim to return to Melbourne after my term ends in
Arriving in Geneva, I was overwhelmed by the enormity December 2023 and to pick up where I left off, to reconnect
of the job, and quickly bought a globe so I could find the with JCH and the University community and to reflect on the
latest conflict or border dispute on the map. Where exactly last few years with the UN in Switzerland. But of course, the
way to make the gods laugh is to tell them your plans!

Prof. Gillian Triggs (1964)
Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant High Commissioner for
Protection, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees.

Recipient of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal of Honour,
an international recognition established by the World
Jurist Association and presented for the first time in 2021.
The Medal is awarded in recognition of inspiring women
jurists who fight to defend and strengthen the rule of law
A warm welcome to Côte d’Ivoire in April 2022, after and to consolidate society’s advances in gender equity.
accompanying 250 Ivorian refugees from Liberia by road and
across the Cavally River.
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