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Humanitarian Borders: Unequal Mobility and Saving Lives

Percy Bysshe Shelley

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Published in Polly Pallister Wilkins

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The Ethics of Humanitarian Borders

The ethics of humanitarian borders are complex. There is no easy answer to the question of who should be allowed to cross a border and who should be turned away. However, there are some basic ethical principles that can guide our thinking about this issue.

One important principle is the principle of non-refoulement. This principle prohibits states from returning people to a country where they would face persecution or other serious harm. This principle is based on the idea that everyone has a right to seek asylum from persecution, regardless of their nationality or other status.

Humanitarian Borders: Unequal Mobility and Saving Lives

by Polly Pallister-Wilkins

4.7 out of 5

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Another important principle is the principle of equality. This principle requires that all people be treated equally under the law, regardless of their race, religion, gender, or other status. This principle means that states must not discriminate against people based on their nationality or other status when it comes to granting asylum.

The Practical Challenges of Humanitarian Borders

The practical challenges of humanitarian borders are also significant. States often have limited resources to provide asylum to all those who need it. This can lead to long delays in processing asylum applications, and to overcrowding and poor conditions in refugee camps.

In addition, states often have security concerns about allowing people to cross their borders. They may be concerned that people will enter their country illegally, or that they will pose a security threat. These concerns can lead to states adopting restrictive border policies that make it difficult for people to seek asylum.

A More Just and Humane Approach to Humanitarian Borders

The ethical and practical challenges of humanitarian borders are significant. However, it is important to remember that these borders are a matter of life and death for the people who are trying to cross them. States have a moral obligation to provide asylum to those who are fleeing persecution, and to do so in a way that is fair and humane.

There are a number of things that states can do to create a more just and humane approach to humanitarian borders. First, they can increase their funding for asylum processing and refugee resettlement. This will help to reduce delays in processing asylum applications and to improve conditions in refugee camps.

Second, states can adopt more flexible and humane border policies. This could include creating new pathways for people to seek asylum, such as through family reunification or humanitarian visas. It could also include providing temporary protection to people who are fleeing persecution, even if they do not meet the full criteria for refugee status.

Third, states can work together to create a more coordinated and humane approach to humanitarian borders. This could include sharing information about asylum seekers and refugees, and working together to resettle refugees in a fair and equitable way.

The challenges of humanitarian borders are significant, but they are not insurmountable. By working together, states can create a more just and humane approach to humanitarian borders that protects the lives of those who are fleeing persecution.

Humanitarian Borders: Unequal Mobility and Saving Lives

by Polly Pallister-Wilkins

4.7 out of 5