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Syrian Refugees Research Paper

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RESPONDING TO THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS: UNITED STATES, JORDAN, AND EUROPE
Nels Romerdahl
University of Hawaii Maui College Destabilization of Syria
The advances in social media, have allowed for real-time coverage of protests from around the world. In late 2010, a series of revolutions began in the Middle East. This movement became quickly known as the Arab Spring. One of the main reasons behind uprisings was persecution of minorities, poverty, and autocratic rulers (Hamid, 2011).
As a result of the Arab Spring, some countries removed their government leaders, and new government systems were created. However, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has refused to step down, and instead began to attack his own people. This has led to a civil war …show more content…

Someone might seek asylum because they have been forced to leave their country due to war or persecution. Once someone is granted asylum status, they are considered a refugee. Obtaining refugee status might vary from country to country, however, countries have a responsibility to take in refugees. How many refugees are taken in, and the qualifications for refugee status is often what causes much debate about this issue.
The United Nations was created after World War II, in order to promote international diplomacy and protect the rights of individuals. In 1948, the United Nations adopted The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Australian Human Rights Comission, n.d.). This declaration is essentially the international equivalent to the United States Bill of Rights. One of the earliest UN based conventions was the 1951 Refugee Convention (UNHCR, 2002). This convention resulted in a treaty that established certain rights for refugees. This treaty extended the rights of refugees beyond the scope of the Universal Declaration of Human …show more content…

The one of the largest of these agreements is the Schengen Area (U.S. Department of State, n.d.). The Schengen Area allows for free movement of its citizens within its borders. Currently 22 of the countries are members of the European Union (EU), and four are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The EFTA is a trade agreement made between the countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Essentially once a country allows you into their country, you can move freely within The Schengen

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