Table of Contents

Important Notice on the Effective Use of this Study Guide 2

Chair Introductions 3
Violet Frost Johnston 3
Maximilian Ang Jian Zhi 4
Julia Alexandra P. Ibe 5
Council and Topic Introduction: UNHCR 7
Areas of Contention 11
Balancing Humanitarian Needs and Response to Refugees 11
Wide Spread Disinformation about Refugees 11
Sociopolitical Influences Affecting Protection of Refugees 12
Responding to Human Trafficking Among Refugees 12
Socio-economic Impact and Factors to Deny Refugees 13
State Obligation to Refugees 13
Improving Refugee and Poverty Data 14
Societal Dilemma of Refugee to Host Countries 15
The Question of State Integration to Refugees in the Economic Sphere 15
Case Studies 18
Overqualified Workers 18
Case Study 1: Latin America and the Caribbean 18
Changing Immigration Policies 19
Case Study 2: Australia 19
Case Study 3: Canada 20
Repatriations 20
Case Study 4: Myanmar 20
Bloc Positions 22
Bloc Position 1: Countries more welcoming towards refugees 22
Countries Accepting Resettlement Refugees 22
Countries With Favorable Outlook on Refugees 22
Countries Pressured to Take Refugees 23
Bloc Position 2: Countries more skeptical towards accepting refugees 23
Countries Using Means of Detention as Deterrents 23
Countries With Unfavorable Outlooks on Refugees 23
Questions A Resolution Must Answer (QARMAs) 25
Bibliography 27

Credits. This Study Guide was jointly drafted by the dais of UNHCR for AYIMUN 16. It is
not to be reused or replicated in any form unless approved by the authors.

NOTE: This table of contents is printed on Page 1.

This study guide consists of 30 printed pages (excluding the cover page(s)).

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Important Notice on the Effective Use of this Study Guide

In your research, information presented in this Study Guide is non-exclusive. This means that
you should consult other sources of information to enhance your understanding of the topic
and council at hand. Where appropriate, suggestions for your own research are given in
bolded red text.

While the dais would be happy to entertain and assist with questions of procedure and/or
administrative matters, the dais will not be answering any correspondence regarding the
content of the study guide, nor any other administrative matters. This upholds fairness for all
delegates. The dais may be contacted at unhcr.ayimun16@gmail.com.

As a note to delegates, the dais strongly recommends the proposal of concrete, innovative
solutions. The dais is looking for creativity in your solutions, conviction in your speeches,
and collaborative diplomacy in your unmoderated caucuses. We look forward to learning
about who you are as delegates – you are the next generation of leaders in solving our
increasingly interdisciplinary world crises.

Make sure that in your research, you use reliable sources and do not excessively rely on
artificial intelligence resources. We wish you all the best in your preparation efforts.

2
Chair Introductions

Violet Frost Johnston

Hello and Ciao! Dear distinguished delegates,

Welcome to our 16th iteration of AYIMUN! My name is Violet Frost Johnston, and I am your
Head chair for your committee– the UNHCR– and serve on the Board of Directors. I was
born in Yokosuka, Japan, and raised across Australia, the United States, and different
countries in Europe. I now attend the undergraduate Honors College at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I focus on medicine and diplomacy. I served as the
Secretary–General for UNCMUNC, the world’s fifth best university MUN conference, and I
currently compete in both the North American and European circuits as a delegate.

I am especially excited for our committee because of my family’s personal connection to our
global refugee crises. In the COVID pandemic, my mother served as a director for the
American Red Cross in Italy, and I assisted her in preparing our community for incoming
refugees from northern Africa to receive humanitarian assistance. In the future, I would like
to pursue a path of international medicine and focus on providing healthcare and relief
services to those in times of need.

In this committee, I am excited to see your creativity and passion for MUN shine through.
For my new delegates, welcome to your first conference– and for my returners, welcome
back! I look forward to meeting you all and helping you become the best delegate you can be.

3
Maximilian Ang Jian Zhi
Croeso (welcome)! I’m Maximilian and I’m more than honoured to chair this committee.

I was born and raised in Singapore, but spent a few months of my childhood in China. In
November 2024, I graduated from Hwa Chong Institution, and am now awaiting enlistment
into the Singapore Armed Forces. During my time as a student at HCI I was first enrolled in
the Science and Mathematics Talent Programme from 2021 to 2022, and then was awarded
the prestigious Ministry of Education Pre-University Bicultural Scholarship for 2023 to 2024.

My journey in Model UN began when a few friends convinced me to join Singapore Model
UN in 2021, where I was inspired by many whom I met to continue this incredible journey.
Although I did not win any award in that conference, I have won awards at every other local
conference I participated in; most notably, back-to-back Best Delegate awards at the
Singapore Model Parliament and then the OnePeople.sg Model UN conference at the end of
2023. I have also chaired many significant conferences, in various capacities; for example, I
was UNSC Chair at the 2023 Nanyang Technological University Model UN, and also as
ASEAN Chair at the 2022 Yogyakarta Model United Nations (held online due to the
pandemic). I held various secretariat positions, such as Chief of Staff of Together Model UN
Korea for the sixth and seventh editions, having previously served as Operations USG. This
conference marks my “un-retireMUN”, and I am pleased to return to the circuit after a hiatus.

As New Zealand Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, remaked, “Self belief does
not come from living in history”. In a very dynamic topic such as the one we shall be
debating, it is important to not dwell on the mistakes of the past, and instead focus on
creating a better system for all. We must also remember, as Welsh First Minister Eluned
Morgan insisted, “as we look to the future, I want everyone to know that their voice is
important. I'll not be some distant figure… I want to understand the challenges that you face.
I want your priorities to become my priorities”. Let us remember the people whom we serve.

“青年者，国家之魂”，时代总是把历史责任赋予青年。新时代的青年，生逢其时、肩负着
国家、人民赋予的重任，施展才干的舞台无比广阔，实现梦想的前景无比光明。

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[Tr] “The youth are the spirit of the country”; across the eras, the burden of history has been
placed on the shoulders of youth. The youth of today are born in an extraordinary era, and
carry the important responsibility and hopes of the country and people. The stage to display
your abilities have never been so wide, and the prospects of fulfilling your dreams have never
been as bright.

It is my greatest wish for this council to generate innovative and effective solutions to solve
the refugee crisis. With increasing instability in this world, I am eager to hear what you(th),
the leaders of tomorrow, will have to say!

坚冰已经打破，航路已经开通，道路已经指明。(The ice has been broken, the sailing path

has been opened, and the road ahead has been lit up) Diolch yn fawr iawn (thank you very
much) for your support and I look forward to meeting you in council!

5
Julia Alexandra P. Ibe
Mabuhay!

Welcome to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!

I am Julia Alexandra Ibe and I will be one of your chairs for 16th AYIMUN - UNHCR. I was
born and raised in the land of the Pearl of the Orient Seas, the Philippines. I graduated from
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde under the School of Diplomacy and Governance with
an Honourable Mention Award. My journey in Model United Nations (MaUN) began in
2019, and since then, I’ve had the privilege of participating as both a delegate and chair in
various local and international conferences. These experiences have greatly honed my soft
skills, which have become invaluable in my current work in the development sector.

Over the years, I’ve collaborated with non-governmental organizations and academic
institutions to promote and localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and
community engagement across the Philippines. This work fuels my passion for creating
meaningful change in communities, one step at a time.

To all the delegates of the 16th Asia Youth International Model United Nations (AYIMUN), I
hope this conference becomes a memorable and enriching experience for you. Embrace every
moment, learn as much as you can, and enjoy the journey.

Good luck and have fun, dearest delegates!

I hope you make the most out of your time in KL.

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Council Introduction: UNHCR

Most information on the history and work of the UN High Commission for Refugees can be
found on their website here. Importantly, delegates should not confuse the UNHCR with the
UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council). Please read the sections “About
UNHRC” and “What We Do” before reading the following content. You may also wish
to consult the UNHCR Statue.

An interesting nuance is suggested by the UNHCR’s full name: the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees. Indeed, the title of this council suggests that it is, strictly
speaking, only a single individual: the High Commissioner. This individual, as dictated by
Article 3 of the UNHCR Statue, “shall follow policy directives given him by the General
Assembly or the Economic and Social Council.”

Therefore, this council really is a session of the UNHCR Executive Committee (ExCom);
not the UNGA or ECOSOC. The UNHCR Website clarifies that “ExCom does not substitute
for the policy-making functions of the General Assembly or ECOSOC but has its own
executive and advisory functions” and delegates must keep this in mind to adhere to the very
strict mandate of the simulated council.

Being the ExCom, this council’s mandate (also mentioned in that Website) is to: (1) advise
the High Commissioner in the exercise of his/her functions; (2) review funds and
programmes; (3) authorize the High Commissioner to make appeals for funds; and (4)
approve proposed annual budget targets. Once again, we emphasise: this is an advisory body
and therefore all solutions passed are non legally-binding.

Delegates are also reminded to exercise due discretion when it comes to the handling of
additional organs or finances, as ExCom cannot directly create any bodies nor does it allocate
any budget from the coffers of the UN. Instead, according to this same website (you will see
that it is very useful indeed in your research), “ExCom functions as a subsidiary organ of the
General Assembly and its documentation is issued in a General Assembly series. ExCom's
report is submitted directly to the General Assembly for consideration in the Third
Committee”.

7
Topic Introduction

In respect of the UNHCR, this committee’s topic is the following: Addressing Refugee
Integration: Balancing Humanitarian Needs and Socioeconomic Stability.

The refugee crisis is one of the largest and most pressing issues facing the world today–
encompassing approximately 31,600,000 refugees forcibly displaced from their homes.1 This
dispellment of refugees forces host countries to make key socioeconomic decisions on
how to best support their self–interests while also respecting the refugees’ human rights
as set by international law.2

As specifically defined in international law and in the 1951 Convention, refugees are
individuals who are fleeing their home countries in order to escape violation of their human
rights, armed conflict, and persecution. Countries are expected to:

1. Ensure refugees are able to access their country’s borders to seek asylum and not
be punished for crossing said border.
2. Ensure the fundamental human rights of refugees are met.
3. Ensure that refugees are not expelled or removed from their country into another
situation of potential danger; this includes returning to their original country.

Therefore, it is the job of the host country to serve as the protector of the refugees’ asylum.
Refugees, like asylum seekers, have the universal right to seek and receive asylum. However,
it is important to note that refugees and asylum seekers differ in their definitions. Every
refugee starts as an asylum seeker. Once they have arrived at their destination, they must then
apply for legal refugee status in their host country. When approved, the refugee is then
protected by international law.3 The number of current asylum seekers stands at 6.9 million,
and since 2023, this has grown with a 26% increase in the number of those waiting for

1
See “1,000 Days of Full-Scale War on Ukraine: UNHCR’s Deputy Chief Urges Solidarity with Innocent
Victims,”
2
“‘refugees’ or ‘Migrants’? How Word Choices Affect Rights and Lives,” UNHCR, accessed December 11,
2024, https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/refugees-or-migrants-how-word-choices-affect-rights-and-lives.
3
“Migrants, Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Immigrants: What’s the Difference?,” The IRC,
https://www.rescue.org/article/migrants-asylum-seekers-refugees-and-immigrants-whats-difference.

8
refugee–determinant decisions. The United States and Germany are now the largest recipients
of refugee applications, with most applicants coming from Venezuela, Colombia,
Afghanistan, Sudan, and Syria.

Source: The Economist

After becoming legally approved, refugees must assimilate into their host societies. However,
with fast and forced assimilation, there comes massive tradeoffs for both the host country and
the refugee. Some trade offs you should research about your country include:

1. Overqualified workers. Refugees add to the labor force and working population of
their host country; however, many refugees with university backgrounds end up
working in positions they are overqualified for.
2. Youth education. Host countries are better able to promise safety for migrant youth,
but many refugee children are unable to continue their education in their new country.
3. International aid. UNHCR, WHR (Window for Host Communities and Refugees),
IOM (International Organization for Migration), and USAID (U.S. Agency for
International Development) provide host countries with financial aid to help care for
refugees, so long as said host country meets certain criteria. Yet, hosting refugees is a

9
 costly expenditure– including providing housing, healthcare, and other social services
which stress public finances and infrastructure.4
4. Cultural diversity. Refugees bring new ideas, business and medicinal practices, and
knowledge with them which enriches their host country’s social scene. However,
colliding cultures may lead to cases of xenophobia and social tension between
refugees and their host nation(s).5

When considering this topic, it is crucial to consider the tradeoffs of hosting refugees, as well
as the historical context of the global refugee crisis. To mitigate this crisis, countries will
have to work together through international organization collaboration efforts– this means
using combined resources and strategic planning from various organizations, including the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

4
See “Window for Host Communities and Refugees.”
5
See “Migration, cultural bereavement and cultural identity”

10
Areas of Contention

Further information on the trade-offs host countries must consider when hosting
refugees is detailed in this section.

Balancing Humanitarian Needs and Response to Refugees

The principles of humanitarian values must be upheld; thus, people fleeing war and
persecution must be catered and offered protection. Yet, there are 8 million asylum seekers as
of June 20246—which is prevalently increasing over the years. Th, a humanized response has
been largely inadequate. The following are the hindering factors to a humanized approach:

Wide Spread Disinformation about Refugees

In Turkey, the widespread dissemination of false information about refugees on social media
is a significant driver of the growing anti-refugee sentiment.7 Turkey hosted more than 3.5
million refugees resulting in anti-Syrian sentiments as a result of politicization of the issue of
Syrians' status in Turkish society, particularly in light of shifts in the political landscape.8
After the 2017 referendum, Turkey saw the rise of two major political alliances: the ruling
People's Alliance, led by the AKP and MHP, and the opposition Nation's Alliance, which
includes several parties such as the CHP and IYI Party. Many opposition parties, along with
the Victory Party, used anti-Syrian refugee rhetoric in their campaigns, fueling online hate
and leading to incidents like the violent riots against Syrians in Ankara's Altindag
neighborhood in 2021.9

These media movements contributed to the circulation of hateful discourses against Turkish
and other refugees. In literature, online discourses focused on negative sentiments are tied
with disinformation, hate speech and political actors as part of their campaign for candidacy.10
It is evident that social media amplifies negative stereotype against refugees through
reinforcing myths, xenophobia, and racialization of refugees11. Given this, how can delegates
address this rise of xenophobia in the online world?

6
See “Figures at a Glance”.
7
See "Sarcasm Beyond Hate Speech: Facebook Comments on Syrian Refugees in Turkey."
8
See "Online Toxicity Against Syrians in Turkish Twitter: Analysis and Implications."
9
See "Shifting Dynamics in Turkey’s Migration Policy: National Reforms and International Cooperation."
10
See “Hate and disinformation narratives in the online mediascape in Turkey (No.12)”
11
See “Hate and disinformation narratives in the online mediascape in Turkey (No.12)”

11
Sociopolitical Influences Affecting Protection of Refugees
Due to sociopolitical influences, industrialized nations have implemented stricter policies
towards refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, resulting in xenophobic rhetoric from
politicians and public officials that have fostered a climate of hostility toward these groups.
Aside from that, increasing violence has been predominant over the years.12 There are more
than 60 million women and girls who are forcibly displaced that have a higher risk of
gender-based violence. In fact, UN data reveals a 50% increase in conflict-related sexual
violence last year—with women and girls comprising 95% of reported cases. Furthermore,
there are also unreported incidents due to limited humanitarian access, fear of retaliation,
social stigma, resource shortages and limited access to justice.13

There are governing international regulations to address and integrate refugees. The Dublin
III Regulation ensures prompt asylum procedures of integration. Aligned with this is the
Asylum Procedure Directive that standardizes international protection of migrants and the
Reception Conditions Directive that standardizes housing, health care and rights of our
refugees.14

Despite international recognition and guiding principles, there is a huge disparity between
international response as there are still asylum seekers with diminished protection, poor
living conditions, and growing reluctance among states to accept refugees. 15
This is largely
due to the emerging sociopolitical and technological influences that are spreading rapidly due
to globalization. Delegates must reconsider these hindering factors and create effective and
efficient global efforts in balancing humanitarian needs and response to refugees.

Responding to Human Trafficking Among Refugees

Studies have shown that refugees experience a high prevalence of human trafficking across
most regions, regardless of gender, underscoring the urgent need for stronger efforts to
identify and protect trafficked individuals.16 Refugees fleeing war are among the world's most

12
See "Racism, Refugees, and Immigration: A Human Rights Perspective."
13
See "UNHCR Warns of Devastating Spike in Risk of Gender-Based Violence for Women and Girls Forced to
Flee."
14
See "Racism, Refugees, and Immigration: A Human Rights Perspective."
15
See “Responding to Refugee Crises: Lessons from Evaluations in South Sudan as a Country of Origin”
16
See. "Human Trafficking Among Refugees: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis."

12
vulnerable groups, forced to abandon their homes and families while seeking assistance in
neighboring countries. Despite enduring perilous journeys, many arrive at camps lacking
basic resources. Additionally, refugees often face cultural isolation and discrimination,
which prevents them from obtaining legal status or securing a livelihood. This
combination of political, social, and economic instability makes them particularly
vulnerable to traffickers.17

For instance, more than 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine in search of new homes
following the mass exodus caused by the war. Police and aid workers in Poland have
expressed concerns about sex traffickers targeting vulnerable girls, who are exhausted from
their perilous journeys away from the conflict-ridden frontlines. Reports indicate that these
criminals pose as companions, offering women promises of safe accommodation and free
transport to lure them away from refugee camps, ultimately exploiting them for personal
gain.18

These prevailing barriers to respond to a human-rights centered approach still denies the
rights of refugees all over the world. The lack of international assistance has led to
continually denied refugee protection and growing reluctance among host states to new wave
of refugees.

Socio-economic Impact and Factors to Deny Refugees

The 1951 Refugee Convention recognizes the principle of non-discrimination,
non-penalization and non-refoulement, yet, States need to be reminded of the socio-economic
implications and its obligation to refugees worldwide.

State Obligation to Refugees

In 2020, countries borders were closed to most of the refugees due to Covid-19
pandemic which clearly violated several national and international law, especially
Migration Law. One example is that a federal government used the global health concern as a
justification to adopt discriminatory policies that mostly affect migrants.19 Delegates must
emphasize the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which

17
See "Human Trafficking and Refugees."
18
See "More than 1.5 Million Flee Ukraine as Police Warn of Sex Traffickers Targeting Women and Children”
19
See "The Obstacles Faced by Refugees to Secure Their Rights."

13
mandates states to prohibit discrimination and upholds their absolute obligation to support
refugees. Despite this clear principle in international human rights law, why do
misconceptions about its application to non-nationals persist, hindering state responsibility to
ensure economic, social, and cultural rights for refugees?20

Improving Refugee and Poverty Data

Humanitarian and development policies must be properly coordinated by Member States as it
is proven to to reduce poverty, enhance living conditions, and foster long-term investments in
sectors like education and healthcare for both refugees and nearby communities. However,
doing so requires accurate and proper data. UNHCR is currently leading various data
collection efforts to enable stakeholders to conduct socioeconomic assessments of refugees,
including those in remote areas. Additionally, the organization emphasizes making this data
accessible to the public in a secure and ethical manner to support development and generate
evidence for the benefit of forcibly displaced individuals.21 Therefore, how can we integrate
policies and data-gathering efforts in a humane and accessible manner for those in war-torn
and remote areas?

Venezuelan Refugee Tent Camp in Latin America

Source: NPR

20
See "Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Migrants and Access to Services."
21
See "New Survey Shows That After COVID-19, Refugees’ Socio-Economic Conditions Are Worsening"

14
Societal Dilemma of Refugee to Host Countries
When people are forced to flee, they leave behind more than their homes. Separated from
their familiar environments, they often lose their community support networks, leading to
social and cultural isolation. Additionally, they face limited access to essential resources and
livelihood opportunities.22

Usually, host countries, particularly those in developing nations, find it difficult to

integrate large numbers of refugees in their labor market. Several factors affect
displaced individual’s ability to access employment and secure decent jobs, including the host
country’s socio-economic conditions, legal frameworks and policies on refugee rights and
work access.

In literature, the humanitarian “care” approach has been criticised as it is basic and can create
dependency. If host countries will only provide them basic necessities, refugees themselves
often seek alternatives when faced with a lack of autonomy and income opportunities in
camps. As a result, refugees are living in the cities informally and without international
support. This occurs primarily in developing nations as 85% of refugees are hosted by
developing countries. These hosts have significant numbers of refugees, yet, refugees don’t
qualify for additional aid, despite facing their own economic struggles. As a result, these
countries are left to manage the impacts on their local labor markets and social cohesion with
limited external support.23

The lack of international assistance to these refugee situations has resulted in diminishing
protection, poor living conditions, and an increasing unwillingness by host states to take in
new influxes of refugees. As a Member State of UNHCR, how will you be able to encourage
and integrate forcibly displaced person in a humane way and empower their communities as a
global community?

The Question of State Integration to Refugees in the Economic Sphere

The World Bank showed that high-income countries consistently showed the outcomes of
refugees lag behind local and economic migrants. The lag still remains even if the study
22
See “Trafficking in Persons”
23
See “Towards Better Employment and Social Outcomes for Migrant Workers”

15
considered their health, education background, gender and age. For instance, historical
instances of forced displacement in Europe resulted in lasting disparities between displaced
populations and the local residents. However, once displaced individuals transitioned out of
the agricultural sector, they tended to achieve better labor market outcomes.24

On the next page is a table of constraints for the labor market integration of refugees
and IDPs25. Note that this is only a summary and therefore delegates are expected to
perform further research, as appropriate.

Given these labor market constraints, how can delegates promote refugee integration in both
industrialized and developing countries? Additionally, what forms of assistance can the
international community provide to support host countries and refugees effectively?

Constraints Why it binds more for those forcibly displaced

Refugees are less economically selected over their

Lack of Skills
skill demand.

Impact Host Prolonged disruption of education and work

States less experience through conflict displacement.
significantly Lack of Labor
Demand Refugees face challenges with unrecognized
qualifications and lack access to their certificates in the
respective host countries.

Lack of Refugees have less time to learn the language of the

language host country.
Impacts proficiency
economic
migrants, to a The choice of destination of refugees is more
Lack of social
lesser extent influenced by escaping violence than by existing
networks and
networks.
information on

24
See “Forcibly Displaced: Toward a Development Approach Supporting Refugees, the Internally Displaced,
and Their Hosts”
25
See “Forcibly Displaced: Toward a Development Approach Supporting Refugees, the Internally Displaced,
and Their Hosts”

16
 labor markets The lack of freedom to choose where to move and
settle can lead to social isolation.

Refugees tend to have a lack of information on labor

markets and destinations.

They opted to move to a closer and immediate

destination before secondary movement / resettlement.
Uncertain or
Refugees have uncertain time of recognition of status
short time
and duration of residence permit in the host country.
horizon
The possibility that movement can happen again
anytime.

Legal challenges Do not have the right to work and move freely.
and Restrictions to own property, open a business and
discrimination access financial services.

Forced to abandon assets, often losing access to them

permanently; must deplete remaining assets to offset
income loss and fund their relocation
Lack of Assets
Increased dependency ratios due to the absence or loss
of family income earners, with a higher prevalence of
female-headed households.
Affects
mainly those Refugees often have poorer health compared to hosts
forcibly Lower levels of and economic migrants due to pre-displacement
displaced health; higher conditions and the challenges faced during
prevalence of displacement.
depression and
PTSD They endure violence, trauma, and post-migration
stressors that impact their well-being.

Experiences of violence and forced displacement

Risk aversion
reduce their willingness to take risks.

17
Case Studies
Several improvements in migrant policies derive from historical examples. Examples set
the precedent for how countries should approach the refugee crisis today and in the
future. View different examples below.

Overqualified Workers
Case Study 1: Latin America and the Caribbean

Political turmoil in Venezuela has pushed approximately 8 million people to leave the
country– most have fled to neighboring states and the Caribbean.26 The host countries
receiving a majority of these displaced peoples include Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
Perhaps the largest issue that has stemmed from this refugee crisis is balancing the needs of
local workers with those of Venezuelan refugees. Many Venezuelan refugees are qualified
workers who are now competing with less qualified workers in their host countries, thus
pushing host citizens into economic disparities. These Venezuelan refugees are often
overqualified, working below their level of education. This competition has worsened
relations between Venezuelan refugees and their host nations. However, host countries have
noted the net positive impact these refugees have had on their economies and therefore
have introduced new policies to assist refugees in receiving job–finding and technical
assistance to better match qualified refugees with jobs.

26
See “Effective Integration of Venezuelan Migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean • Inter-American
Foundation.”

18
 Source: BBC

Changing Immigration Policies

Case Study 2: Australia

As of late November, 2024, Australia has drastically changed its immigration policies– many
of which affect already–established refugees in Australian territory.27 As previously
explained, Australia uses detainment to manage incoming migrants. New legislation has
expanded their offshore detainment infrastructure and policies, as well has made it possible
for police personnel to arrest people resisting deportation, including asylum seekers. The
government now has the authority to pay other countries to accept asylum seekers from
Australia, even if the paid countries are not parties to the Refugee Convention or subject to
international law that protects the health and interests of refugees. It is important to note that
most Australian mainstream media is censored (see the ruling to Australian Capital
Television Pty Ltd v Commonwealth) and therefore, delegates are encouraged to refer to
alternative media sources for reference. One such source which I commonly use in my

27
See “Australia Passes Harsh New Anti-Migration Laws.”

19
research is TheJuiceMedia, which covers a huge range of topics ranging from climate action
to political persecution. Refer to this video for their criticisms of Australian refugee
policy.

Case Study 3: Canada

Canada has a long history of welcoming refugees, including a total of 1,088,015 since 1980.28
The UNHCR has carefully tracked the economic stability of Canada’s refugee population and
has noted the following information:
● Within at least five years of arriving, refugees join Canada’s middle class of income.
● The unemployment rates of both refugees and Canadian–born peoples are roughly
equivalent, thus demonstrating how refugees are not a burden to Canadian taxpayers.
● 51% of working refugees are in highly–skilled professions, including medicine,
dentistry, software engineers, etc.

Moreover, the refugee population in Canada has been thriving for decades. So what has
changed recently? Canada announced they would be reducing permanent residence
admissions by 21%. The country’s population growth has placed a strain on resources and
infrastructure, pushing Canada to limit foreign work permits and tighten immigration
policies.29

For your own reading: if you have time, watch a few exchanges of Canadian Question
Time between Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre (Conservative) and Justin Trudeau
(Liberal). Listen closely to Mr. Poilievre’s arguments on immigration.

Repatriation
Case Study 4: Myanmar

Can refugees return to their home country? Refugees may wish to return to their original
country in a process known as repatriation. In order for this safe and voluntary return to be
a success, the country of origin must be fully committed to aiding their refugees in returning

28
See “Refugees in Canada.”
29
See “Canada’s New Immigration Route: How Trudeau Plans to Correct Past Mistakes.”

20
home.30 The UNHCR works with countries to help them restore housing and infrastructure, as
well as provide transportation for refugees to return home. Recently, Myanmar and
Bangladesh have expressed interest in the repatriation of Rohingya muslim refugees;
Myanmar currently houses over 130,000 Rohingya in displacement camps and is looking for
ways to send them home– including trying to incentivize migrants to leave by cutting their
food rations and access to care.31 However, the UN is urging Bangladesh and Myanmar to
reconsider due to the dangers still present for Rohingya in Bangladesh.

Rohingya Refugees at a displacement camp in Myanmar

Source: International Crisis Group

30
See “Voluntary Repatriation.”
31
See “UN Slashes Food Rations for Rohingya in Bangladesh Camps.”

21
Bloc Positions

Research your country’s historical and current actions regarding the refugee crisis. Use
this information to determine which bloc perspective your country holds.

Disclaimer: Delegates must consider that, although stances are largely divided along the
lines of economic status, there are notable exceptions. In addition, in some larger countries,
there are serious and significant differences in policy stances between individual
subdivisions (e.g. states or provinces). One such example is Wales, which you may learn
more about through an interview with a prominent Welsh politician here (save disabled
due to confidentiality reasons). Therefore, delegates should not commit to this method of
classification, and should instead consider every other country on a case-by-case basis.

Bloc Position 1: Countries more welcoming towards refugees

Countries Accepting Resettlement Refugees

Countries strongly committed to human rights, especially those with strong legal frameworks
honouring the 1951 Convention, look favorably upon accepting refugees. Many of these
countries take in resettlement refugees– which are refugees moving from their country of
asylum to another destination. An example of a resettlement refugee would be someone who
has fled from Venezuela to Peru for asylum, and then they go to the United Kingdom after
further application process. Some countries, like Malaysia and Indonesia, have not signed the
1951 Convention and will only keep refugees temporarily until these refugees can transfer as
resettlement refugees in another country. In 2022, the UNHCR shared how over 2 million
refugees need to resettle and move to another host country.32 Recently, the countries
receiving the most resettlement refugees in proportion to their population are: Canada,
Norway, and Sweden. On the other hand, some countries have reduced the number of
accepted resettlement refugees, like Denmark.

Countries With Favorable Outlook on Refugees

32
See “A Few Countries Take Responsibility for Most of the World’s Refugees.”

22
In a majority of cases, refugees are not able to make it to or their legal status as a refugee is
not accepted in higher income countries.33 Further, over 75% of refugees find asylum in lower
to middle income countries. Several of these countries look favorably upon integrating
refugees into their country due to their potential positive impact on their economies.

Countries Pressured to Take Refugees

Countries neighboring humanitarian crises may find themselves pressured to accept more
refugees. For example, several countries in Latin America receive thousands of Venezuelan
refugees because of their geographical proximity. An asylum seeker / migrant must first make
it across the border of the country they are seeking to be a refugee in; thus, it is easier for
asylum seekers to appeal for refugee status in nearby countries instead of traveling even
longer distances to higher income countries.

Bloc Position 2: Countries more skeptical towards accepting refugees

Countries Using Means of Detention as Deterrents

As previously explained, countries are expected to protect and provide asylum for those who
cross their borders. However, some countries find ways to avoid these requirements, and one
method is detention. Detention is used as a deterrent for refugees, such that refugees are
detained for months at a time with little information about their future until the host
country decides how to handle them. Countries who have used detention in the past include
Australia and the United States.34 The U.S. is flooded by thousands of undocumented
migrants annually and is not able to handle the strain; further, the U.S. uses detention as a
means of reducing refugee numbers. The U.S. also disqualifies certain reasons for seeking
asylum, including escaping gang violence.

Countries With Unfavorable Outlooks on Refugees

Few countries do not wish to accept as many refugees as their global counterparts. Japan,
although facing labor issues that come with an aging working population, continues to make

33
See “Forced Displacement Refugees, Asylum-Seekers, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).”
34
See “The World’s Swelling Refugee Population Has Shrinking Options.”

23
it more difficult for migrants to stay in their country.35 Japan and some other countries fear
that refugees will contribute to higher crime rates and instability in their already solid
and thriving societies.

35
See “Amid a Labor Shortage, Japan Has Made It Even Harder for Refugees to Stay.”

24
Questions A Resolution Must Answer (QARMAs)

The QARMAs are numbered 1 through 4 and should be addressed in all draft resolutions.
Guiding questions to each QARMA, where applicable, are labelled a, b, c, etc.

1. How can the UNHCR ensure that host countries protect and adhere to the
international legal obligations of asylum for refugees while also acknowledging each
country’s domestic socioeconomic needs and interests?
a. How can countries that are unwilling or unable to accept additional refugees
contribute effectively to UNHCR's efforts in addressing the global refugee
crisis?
b. How can countries that are currently more proactive in efforts to accept
refugees continue to play a part in sustained efforts, through incentives or
other measures?

2. How can the UNHCR tap on relevant historical and previous actions to address the
underlying issues to the agenda presented?
a. Consider the case studies. How can these policies be enhanced or improved?
b. How can UNHCR utilise collaboration with other agencies and organizations?
c. Can the UNHCR further incentivize countries to accept more refugees without
straining their infrastructure or resources?

3. How can the UNHCR embrace increased safety regulations to further control
repatriation, without violating domestic sovereignty?
a. How can UNHCR appeal to countries that are attempting to remove
established–refugees from their communities?
b. How can the UNHCR combat xenophobia and widespread disinformation
about refugees in host countries?
c. How can countries reduce dangers of trafficking and other gender–based
violence that refugees face in and during their travels to host countries?
d. Should displacement camps be used to mitigate these issues? If yes, how can
they be improved or changed?

25
4. How can host countries utilise refugee integration to enhance economic stability,
instead of compromising it?
a. How can host countries reduce the number of overqualified workers in
entry-level jobs? How can this be done while ensuring there are sufficient jobs
for locals?
b. How can host countries provide access to education for refugee youth? How
can host countries ensure they will become contributing members of society?

5. How can data collection be enhanced, both by member states and by UNHCR, to
better inform policymakers and citizens about existing issues and progress on refugee
integration?
a. What is the key purpose of good data collection?
b. Is the current lack of data collection due to inadequate infrastructure,
non-transparent government, and/or other factors?

26
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