Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
New Zealand, under the Prime Ministership of Jacinda Arden, abolished the refugee policy that was started by the previous government and was considered as racist. In 2009, the previous centre-right government had enacted the refugee policy that restricted refugees from the Middle East and Africa, thus substantially decreasing the number of refugees from those places and more from the Asia-Pacific region. For example, in the fiscal year of 2015-16 one four refugees were reported to be allowed to seek asylum from Africa. However, there is a slight increase in the no. of refugees accepted from the Middle East in the year, 2015-18. This was due to the relaxation of the restrictions on the refugees hailing from the place under an emergency quota. However, the cessation of the special emergency quota has again resulted in the fall of the refugees from those areas.
The centre-right government only blamed security grounds as the reason but did not cite any substantial reason for such a discriminatory policy. The refugee policy has been, therefore, quite often termed as racist. Till now, the refugees from the Middle East and Africa could be provided asylum, provided they had a family residing in New Zealand, they are a part and parcel of the emergency quota that is outside of the annual intake, they are able to register themselves with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) outside their home country. The policy was criticised on discriminatory grounds and was considered less than “Muslim ban”, a term used to criticise Donald Trump’s policies of banning people to travel the U.S, from a predominantly Islamic country. After the Christchurch mosque attacks in mid-March, this year, all eyes were on the continuing unbroken limitations of the government in accepting refugees from the Middle East and Africa.
It is to be noted that New Zealand is a signatory of the UNCHR, and is thus obligated to provide asylum to the refugees. This is codified in the Sixth Schedule of Immigration Act, 1987. However, the Act does not deal with the policies, which are framed from time to time by the government in power.
Image Credits: newsroom.co.nz
86540
103860
630
114
59824