Maintaining and Respecting the Dignity of Asylum Seekers and the Sanctity of Refugees…….
In every generation, humanity is confronted with moral choices that test our shared values. One of the most pressing issues in our time is the question of how societies treat asylum seekers and refugees. For me, the answer is clear: those who flee persecution, violence, conflict or economic hardship must be treated with dignity, compassion and respect. They are not statistics, but human beings whose survival, safety and futures depend on the fairness of the systems that receive them.
Yet, alongside this conviction, I believe it is equally important to speak with honesty and balance. While genuine asylum seekers deserve protection, there are individuals and organised networks who have cynically turned irregular migration into a commercial enterprise. Such practices not only endanger lives but also undermine the integrity of the asylum system and the goodwill of host nations. Addressing this abuse must never mean abandoning compassion, but rather strengthening the asylum system so that it remains credible, just and fair.
The United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, alongside its 1967 Protocol, remains the cornerstone of international refugee protection. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that everyone has the right to seek and enjoy asylum in other countries from persecution. This provision was borne out of the painful lessons of the Second World War, when millions were displaced and many perished because safe havens were denied.
Equally significant is Article 31 of the Refugee Convention, which recognises that refugees should not be penalised for their manner of entry, provided they present themselves to authorities promptly and show good cause for their irregular arrival. These articles, together with international humanitarian law, underscore a simple truth: seeking asylum is not a crime; it is a right rooted in our shared humanity.
The United Kingdom has, for centuries, established a reputation as a haven for those fleeing persecution. From the Huguenots of France to Ugandan Asians expelled under Idi Amin, from Jewish families fleeing Nazi terror to more recent Syrian and Ukrainian arrivals, the UK has shown commendable compliance with international conventions. This long-standing tradition reflects not only a legal commitment but a moral one, consistent with the values of fairness, liberty and justice that define democratic societies.
However, the fact that the UK has been compliant does not mean its system should remain static. Authorities must ensure that this goodwill is not abused by those who exploit loopholes or those with criminal intentions who have turned illegal migration into a lucrative industry. The rise of organised smuggling networks across the English Channel is a case in point. These groups profit from human desperation, charging exorbitant sums and exposing men, women and children to perilous journeys. Such criminality not only threatens lives but corrodes public trust in the asylum system itself.
It is therefore legitimate, and indeed necessary, for the UK and other host nations to strengthen mechanisms that deter abuse while preserving access for genuine asylum seekers. Protecting the sanctity of asylum means balancing compassion with responsibility.
Beyond the legal frameworks and policy debates lie human stories of pain, resilience and hope. Asylum seekers flee for many reasons: some escape political persecution, others flee conflict zones where daily survival is uncertain, and many are displaced by grinding poverty and economic collapse. Whatever the cause, their journeys speak of courage and a desperate longing for a life where dignity is preserved.
To deny such people the right to be heard is to erode the very principles of justice upon which modern civilisation is built. International law is not an abstract creation of diplomats, but a safeguard meant to ensure that the most vulnerable among us are not cast aside or silenced.
In times of economic uncertainty or political instability, asylum and migration often become tools of division. Populist rhetoric reduces asylum seekers to threats rather than human beings, fuelling hostility and xenophobia. Yet history shows that societies enriched by diversity are stronger, more resilient and more innovative. The real challenge is not the presence of refugees, but how we choose to respond to them.
Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan once observed, “We may have different religions, different languages, different coloured skin, but we all belong to one human race.” His words are a powerful reminder that unity and dignity must always guide us. Similarly, Eleanor Roosevelt, one of the architects of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stated, “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home.” These small places are our communities, our neighbourhoods, our towns, where the treatment of refugees becomes a reflection of our moral character as nations.
What then must be done? Governments must maintain full compliance with UN conventions and human rights obligations, ensuring that asylum seekers have the right to a fair and timely hearing. Authorities must dismantle smuggling networks and prosecute those who exploit human desperation for profit. Public education campaigns must counter misinformation, emphasising the contributions refugees make to their host societies. International cooperation must be deepened, as the challenge of migration is not one nation’s burden but a global responsibility.
The dignity of asylum seekers and the sanctity of refugees are not abstract ideals. They are daily realities for millions worldwide. In protecting them, we not only defend the rights of the vulnerable, but we also affirm our own humanity. The task before us is clear: to preserve the balance between compassion and justice, between welcome and security, so that the asylum system remains a beacon of hope rather than a battleground of fear.
Ultimately, how we treat the displaced and the vulnerable is the true measure of our civilisation.
Ambassador Deacon Darlington Okpebholo Ray is a Human Resources expert, Freelance Journalist, and Human and Social Rights Activist. He writes from London, England. He can be reached at darlingoray@gmail.com.
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