The adequacy of the principle of Responsblity sharing in addressing the global refugee crisis

Abstract

Today, the number of refugees worldwide is at historically high levels. The UNHCR estimates that as of 2016 there are 65.6 million displaced persons globally, with 22.3 million of these being refugees. The brunt of the responsibilities of hosting and protecting these refugees is borne by a few poor and developing countries, ill-equipped to handle large number of refugees in need of protection and assistance. Contrariwise, in an attempt to keep refugee away from their border, most developed countries across the world have introduced different restrictive measures. This situation leads the lives of millions of refugees to be trapped in camps in protracted refugee situations in hosting states and impacts the international refugee regime negatively. The refugee problem is just as critical as environmental, advancing human rights and other related problems of this world. It is a problem of the world community and not only concerns the host countries. Therefore, aimed to search way out this thesis explores the adequacy of the principle of responsibility sharing in addressing the global refugee crisis. The fundamental finding of the thesis is that although the principle of responsibility sharing is relevant in today’s growing international problems which require a collective action from international community, it is not adequate under international refugee law to address the current global refugee crisis. As international refugee law stands today the distribution of the refugee responsibility usually depends on geographical position of countries. Consequently, the thesis concluded that international refugee law lacks a clear and positive obligation, in ensuring a fair distribution of refugee responsibilities between the signatory states. Based on this finding, the author argues that the need for legally binding refugee responsibility sharing treaty among states given the current global refugee crisis is necessary in order to create a more equitable refugee regime, to find durable solution for the global refugee plight and to enhance global peace and stability.