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People flee from their homes in fear of their lives. They flee in the hope of seeking safety. Border Stories introduces 10 of these people, from countries such as Afghanistan, Chechnya, Indonesia and Angola, who donated their personal objects to Médecins Sans Frontières' field staff for this online exhibition. A doll, a book, keys: all have a past, and when displayed with photographs of their owners, and details of each country, they reveal 10 dramatic and touching, individual stories. Médecins Sans Frontières has committed itself to provide essential medical, psychological, and logistical aid to refugees, displaced people, and asylum seekers. Our teams work not only in the countries that refugees have fled from, but also in the key regions that receive them. We see the problems facing refugees and displaced people first hand: forced repatriation to their homelands still in the grip of war, obstruction of humanitarian assistance, border closures to prevent new floods of refugees. Millions of people continue to be denied their right to protection. The issues that Australia and the rest of the Western world face in hosting and protecting refugees are different from those in Asia and Africa. Australia, after all, receives very few refugees in comparison to many other countries. Australia was once at the forefront of progressive human rights initiatives, such as helping to draft the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the Refugee Convention. But it has now reversed its position, interpreting the Refugee Convention in the most restrictive manner possible - so that those fleeing persecution often do not get the opportunity to seek asylum and find safe refuge here. Most Australians, luckily, will never be forced to resort to such drastic action as fleeing their homes, fortunate as they are to live in a country that is free from tyranny and on-going violence, We hope that by visiting 'Border Stories' you will develop a greater understanding and empathy for those forced to flee persecution and war. |
REFUGEES, DISPLACED PERSONS AND Refugee According to the Refugee Convention, a refugee is a person who faces persecution because of his or her race, religion, nationality, or because he or she belongs to a certain social group or has particular political opinions; a refugee is a person who has to flee to another country because of these reasons Displaced Person A displaced person is a civilian who has fled their home to go to another region in their own country. For example, that person might go to a more peaceful part of his or her own country without crossing any international borders. Asylum-seeker An asylum-seeker is a person who asks for exile and protection in another country. The authorities in that country then examine the asylum-seeker's case. |
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