Today the 20th of June we celebrate the World Refugee Day. According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 43 million people now require international protection in the world, the highest number since the mid 90s. There are two indisputable indicators of solidarity of a country: development cooperation metrics and commitment to refugees. The analysis of the situation of refugees in Spain and throughout the world, demonstrates that Spain does not meet the minimum...
more »Today the 20th of June we celebrate the World Refugee Day. According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 43 million people now require international protection in the world, the highest number since the mid 90s. There are two indisputable indicators of solidarity of a country: development cooperation metrics and commitment to refugees. The analysis of the situation of refugees in Spain and throughout the world, demonstrates that Spain does not meet the minimum threshold in the basic level of international protection.
In 2009, about 3,000 people requested asylum in Spain, 33% less than in 2008. The lowest figure in the history of asylum seekers. But this sad record will stand short quite soon, since 2010, during the first four months of the year, the figure had fallen by another 30%. In addition, only 179 people have obtained refugee status in 2009 and 170 people received some other forms of subsidiary protection. That is, only 7% of applicants received a favorable response. However, in the 27 European Union countries 10% more applications were received in 2008. If we compare, Belgium, a country with a population much smaller than Spain, gave protection to almost 3,000 people, ten times more than Spain.
It is essential to strengthen safeguards for asylum seekers and prevent administrative practice, without a clear regulatory framework. Also an urgent need is present to implement the resettlement program approved by the government, that would contribute to alleviating the tremendous responsibility the state has taken upon in the developing countries. Today we commemorate World Refugee Day with activities across Europe, organized by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), from Madrid's plaza of Callao, voices are risen and commitment of solidarity to protect refugees is expressed by opening 100 white umbrellas under the incandescent spanish sun.
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