PromotingtheCulturalRightsofRefugeesintheContextoftheSyrianCrisis:thecaseoftheIdeasBoxDenizGürsoyArticleInformation

Issue22:2018.SpecialIssueCulturalRightsandGlobalDevelopment,ed.JonathanVickery.Thisarticlewaspublishedon:6thJune2018.Keywords:Protractedrefugeesituations;Goethe-Institut;information;education;CulturalRights.JournalISSN:1467-0437

Abstract

Thisarticleisframedbythelegalconceptof'protractedrefugeesituation'(PRS),andthestrategicmeansbywhichCulturalRightshasbeeninterjectedasafactorinrefugeesupport.WithparticularreferencetotheprojectIdeasBox,developedbytheGermanGoethe-Institut(initiatedbyLibrariesWithoutBorders(LWB)in2014),thearticleattemptstodefinehowtheprojectflagsupthecentralityofinformation,educationandsocialinteractionwitheffectivestrategiesforprovidingahumaneandproductiverefugeesupport.AccesstoinformationandeducationplaysacrucialroleinprovidingabasisfortheexerciseofCulturalRights,andwhereRightsbecomeapreconditionfordevelopingstrategiclong-termplanningandrespondingtothefundamentalneedsofsubjectslikerefugeesinPRSsituations. Author

DenizGürsoytheIdeasBoxCountryProjectCoordinatorattheGoethe-InstitutAnkara:mailto:deniz.guersoy@goethe.de

Copyright:JournalofLaw,SocialJustice&GlobalDevelopment,UniversityofWarwick,UKhttp://www2.warwick.ac.uk/research/priorities/internationaldevelopment/lgd/

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Introduction

Ithasbeenfrequentlystatedthatthemultidimensionalcharacteristicofhumanrightsisalltooeasilyignoredinthefaceofthenatural,political,economicorsocialforcesthatcauserefugeeoutflows.Mostparticularly,duringaprotractedrefugeesituation(PRS),thefullcharacterofculturalrightsisnotimmediatelyclear,butinrelationtorefugeesanddisplacedpeople–consequentlyresidentineitherurbancentresorrefugeecamps–itissignificantandshouldbeunderlined.AstheSyrianconflict(commencingintheSpringof2011)becamearefugeecrisis,thecrisisbecamearecognised‘PRS’during2016,aconditionthatthisarticlewillexplore;anexplorationoftheconceptofPRSwillthenbefollowedbyafocusonthecharacteristicsandthechangesofthedefinitionofPRS(inahistoricalperspective),articulatinganunderstandingontheimportanceofpromotingculturalrights.Specificallyregardingsocialcohesionbetweenrefugeeandhostcommunities,thearticlewillattempttodevelopanewperspectiveontherefugeepopulationbothincampsandurbancentrespertinenttothesocioeconomiccontextsofthehostcountries.

AsaresultoftherefugeeinfluxtoneighbouringcountriesofTurkey,NorthernIraq,LebanonandJordan,thesocioeconomicchallengesofarefugeeinflux,asmuchasthepoliticalattitudesoftherelevantgovernments,arecurrentlygeneratingtheconditionsforalackofpermanentanddurablesolutions.Inmoreconcreteterms,therefugeesintheaforementionedcountriesarefacedwithalackofdurableoptionsthemselvesbecauseofabroadpoliticalunwillingnessand/orasocioeconomicincapabilityonthepartofhostcountries.

Itisclearthattheaccesstoinformationplaysacrucialroleinprovidingabasisfortheexerciseofculturalrights.Thisarticlearguesthatconceptualisingtheaccesstoinformationasafundamentalhumanrightisapreconditionfordevelopingalong-termperspectiveandrespondingtothevariousneedsofsubjectslikerefugeesinPRScomprehensively.

TheGoethe-Institut–astheinternationalrepresentativeculturalinstitutionoftheFederalRepublicofGermany–isconductingvariousculturalandeducationalprojectswithitslocal,regionalandinternationalpartnersforrefugeesinprimaryreceivingcountries.Oneprojectisthe‘IdeasBox’,launchedbyLibrariesWithoutBorders(LWB)in2014andaimstoextentthebenefitsoflibrariestoisolatedcommunities,providingaccesstoinformationinpost-disastercontexts.TheprojectIdeasBoxisconductedincooperationwithlocalpartners,LWBandthefinancialsupportofGermanFederalForeignOffice.ThefocusofthisarticleistheGoethe-Institut'sresponsetotheSyrianrefugeecrisis,wheretheIdeasBoxprojectisaneffectobjectofevaluation.ThecriteriaofevaluationissimplyhowthisprojectarticulatestheimportanceofpromotingtheculturalrightsofrefugeesinthecontextoftheSyriancrisis.1

ProtractedRefugeeSituation(PRS):definition,approachesandfeatures

Definitionscanbeproblematicaswellasexplanatory:butitisclear,thatacritical-historicalunderstandingofhowthechangesinadefinitionoccurcaneffectivelyleadustounderstandwhichtendencieshavebeendominatedandwhatconditions,andwhatenablessuchadefinition(ifbydefinitionwemeanaconsensusofunderstanding).

IndefiningPRS,UNHCRindicatesthatitis“acrudemeasureofrefugeepopulationsof25,000personsormorewhohavebeeninexileforfiveormoreyearsindevelopingcountries”(UNHCR,2004:2).Thequantitative,temporalandterritorialcriteriaofthisdefinitionarethreeconditionsofunderstandingaPRSatagiventime.However,intheir2009publication,GlobalTrends2008,UNHCRmadetwoconsiderablechangesinthequantitativeandterritorialcriteria,definingaPRSas“oneinwhich25,000ormorerefugeesof

1Theprojectisevaluatedbyacontractedcompanythatmakesanimpactassessmentwithsetcriteria.ItisaimedtoassesstheimpactofIdeasBoxontheparticipantsbycarryingoutaretrospectivecollectedqualitativedataanalysisbysexandagegroups,nationalities,employmentstatusandthetimethattherefugeeparticipantsspendinthegivenasylumcountry.Focusgroupdiscussionsandface-to-facestructuredinterviewsaremadewithparticipants,theirparentsandprojectimplementors.

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thesamenationalityhavebeeninexileforfiveormoreyearsinagivenasylumcountry’(UNHCR,2009a:7).Accordingtothenewdefinition,therefugeesinquestionmustbelongtothesamenationality,andnotonlyinadevelopingcountrybutaprotractedrefugeesituationinagivenasylumcountry,andaslongastheylastfiveyearsormore.Thesetworevisedcriteriahadatwo-sidedeffectontheconceptualframeworkofPRS:thescopeofthedefinitionofPRSwaslimitedbya“samenationality”regulationasitwasextendedbythenewterritorialcriterion.Ina2017publicationUNHCRaddedanadjectivetothisdefinition:“Traditionally,aprotractedrefugeesituationhasbeendefinedbyUNHCRasoneinwhich25,000ormorerefugeesfromthesamenationalityhavebeeninexileforfiveconsecutiveyearsormoreinagivenasylumcountry”(UNHCR,2017:22,myitalics).

However,regardlessofthedifferencesbetweentheaforementioneddefinitions,acharacteristicofPRSwasdescribedbyUNHCRin2004(asMilneremphasized:Milner,2014:152)as“oneinwhichrefugeesfindthemselvesinalong-lastingandintractablestateoflimbo”.UNHCRdescribedthesituationofrefugeesin“along-lastingandintractablestateoflimbo”asfollows:

Theirlivesmaynotbeatrisk,buttheirbasicrightsandessentialeconomic,socialandpsychologicalneedsremainunfulfilledafteryearsinexile.Arefugeeinthissituationisoftenunabletobreakfreefromenforcedrelianceonexternalassistance(UNHCR,2004:1).

Astateoflimbocanbeconsideredas“astateofuncertainty”thatmakesitimpossibleforrefugeesinthissituationtobegindevelopinganewlifeornewperspectivesontheirlife.Characterisedbyuncertainty,PRSmaycontinueformanyyearswithoutdurablesolutionsthataredevelopedbyhostcountriesand/ortheinternationalcommunity.Theprimaryreasonsforthelackofdurablesolutionsarerecognisedasapoliticalunwillingnessand/ortheincapabilityofhostcountriestofullyrecognisethehumanrightsof

refugees.Inthissense,PRSwasdefinedbyUNHCRonceagaininadocumentdated2009asasituationthatmillionsofrefugeesaretrappedinfor5yearsormoreaftertheirinitialdisplacement,withoutimmediateprospectsforimplementationofdurablesolutions(UNHCR,2009b).

ThetimethatrefugeesspendinPRSdependsonessentiallypoliticaldecisionsandsocioeconomiccircumstancesofthehostcountries,andithasatendencytoincreasebecauseofthisdependency.Asacommentatorstated(Schall,2013),indeed,notonlyhasthepercentageofrefugeesaffectedbyPRSsincreased,theaveragetimetheyspendinexilehastoo.UNHCRestimatesthattheaveragedurationofmajorrefugeesituations,protractedornot,hasincreasedfrom9yearsin1993to17yearsin2003(UNHCR,2004).In2015,U.S.DepartmentofStatenotifiedthatUNHCRestimatedthattheaveragelengthofamajorprotractedrefugeesituationsis26years.2AccordingtoUNHCRReportGlobalTrends2016,inwhichitisstatedthatthedefinitionofPRShaslimitationsasdisplacementsituationsaredynamic,thereareseveralsituationslasting20yearsormore:

Basedontheexistingdefinition,11.6millionrefugees,representingsometwo-thirdofallrefugees,wereinprotractedrefugeesituationsattheendof2016.Ofthisnumber,4.1millionwereinasituationlasting20yearsormore.ThesituationofAfghanrefugeesinPakistanandtheIslamicRepublicofIranhasinvolvedlargenumbersofpeople-combined,morethan2million-andhaslastedmorethan30years.Therewere5.6millionpeopleinprotractedsituationsofshorterduration(betweenfiveandnineyears),mostofthemSyrianrefugees.(UNHCR,2017:22).

2‘ProtractedRefugeeSituations’atU.S.DepartmentofStatewebsite,https://www.state.gov/j/prm/policyissues/issues/protracted/[accessed18thSeptember,2017].

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Atthispoint,itshouldbenotedthatPalestinianrefugeesinEgyptarethelongestprotractedsituationunderUNHCR’smandate(UNHCR,2017)andPalestinianrefugeesasawhole,whofallunderthemandateoftheUNReliefandWorksAgencyforPalestineRefugeesintheNearEast(UNRWA),representtheworld`soldestandlargestprotractedrefugeesituation(UNHCR,2006:106).

DespitethefactthatmostPRSsareinAfrica,particularlyinNorthandsub-SaharanAfrica,PRSscanbefoundallacrosstheworld,suchasinAsiaandLatinAmerica.Despitethechangeinterritorialcriterionofthedefinition–from“indevelopingcountries”to“inanygivenasylumcountry”–aterritorialpatterncanbeobserved.Accordingtothestatistics,itisremarkabletonotethatmostoftheexistingPRSstakeplaceindevelopingandunder-developedcountries.Themainreasonforthispatternisthatmostrefugees,inanattempttoescapeviolenceandpersecution,fleetoneighbouringstates(Schall,2013).Itshouldbepointedoutthatregardlessofthedevelopmentlevelofthehostcountries,PRSsareproblematicwithregardstosociopolitical,economicandsecurityfactors,aswellasfromahumanrightsstandpoint.Themostimportantchallengesthatrefugeesfaceinthissituationarephysicalandsexualviolence,limitedaccesstolegalemploymentandjusticesystemsandthelackoflegalprotection.Restrictedmovementisalsoafundamentalhumanrightchallengenotonlyforrefugeesincampsbutalsoforurbanrefugees.Inadditiontothehumanitarianconcerns,MilnerexplainedhowPRSscanleadtopoliticalandsecurityconcernsforhostcountries,thecountriesoforigin,andtheinternationalcommunity:

Thelong-termpresenceoflargerefugeepopulationshasbeenasourceoftensionsbetweenstatesandregionalinstability,especiallythroughthemilitarizationofrefugeecamps.Armedgroupshaveusedrefugeecampsasabasetolaunchattacksagainsttheircountryoforigin.Othersecurityconcerns,suchasarmstrafficking,drugsmuggling,human

trafficking,andtherecruitmentofchildsoldiers,havealsobeendocumentedinprotractedrefugeesituations.Inadditiontothesedirectsecurityconcerns,protractedrefugeesituationsalsohaveindirectsecurityimplications.Tensionsbetweenrefugeesandthelocalpopulationoftenariseasrefugeesareperceivedtoreceivepreferentialaccesstosocialservicessuchashealthandeducation.Overtime,competitionbetweenrefugeesandthehostpopulationoverscarceresourcescanalsobecomeasourceofinsecurity.(Milner,2014:155).

TheSyrianrefugeecrisisbecameaPRS–thesituationofSyrianrefugeesqualifiedasbeingprotracted–in2016,fiveyearsaftertheoutbreakoftheSyrianCivilWarandthefirstbeginningsoftheinfluxofSyrianrefugeesforcedtofleefromtheconflictin2011.

SyrianRefugeeOutflowtoNeighbouringCountries:thecurrentsituationinprimaryreceivingcountries

TheoutbreakoftheSyrianCivilWarisgenerallydatedto15thMarch2011,thedaythatprotestsinDamascusbegan.Sincethen,thearmedconflictandgeneralisedviolencehascausedmillionsofpeopletofleetheirhomes,andmillionsofpeoplehavebeendisplacedinSyria,asmillionshavefledtoJordan,Lebanon,IraqandTurkey.Unlikerefugees,whohavecrossedinternationalborders,numerousinternallydisplacedpeople(IDPs)haveremainedinsideSyria.Ina2016document,UNHCRestimatedthattherewere6.5millionpeople,including2.8millionchildren,displacedwithinSyria,representingthebiggestinternallydisplacedpopulationintheWorld(UNHCRSyria,2016).Accordingtothisdocument,50Syrianfamilieshavebeendisplacedeveryhourofeverydaysince2011.

IDPsareamongthemostvulnerablepeopleintheworld,astheystaywithintheirowncountryandremainunderthe‘protection’ofthegovernment

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evenifthatgovernmentisthereasonfortheirdisplacement(UNHCR,2014).SyrianrefugeeshavefledforsimilarreasonsasIDPsandtheyhavecrossedtheinternationalborderstoneighbouringcountries.Representingtheneighbouringcountries,Turkey,Lebanon,JordanandIraqaretheprimaryreceivingcountriesinthecontextofSyrianrefugeeoutflow.Asstated,refugeesinmentionedcountriesareinPRSasof2016andfacedwiththelackofdurablesolutionsbecauseofpoliticalunwillingnessand/orincapabilityofhostcountries.Forthereason,itcanbestatedthattheyareextremelyvulnerable,astheinternallydisplacedpopulationinSyria.

UNHCRstatesthat5,233,712registeredSyrianrefugeesrepresenttotalpersonsofconcernintheregionasof28/09/2017.3Thisnumberincludesmorethan120,000refugeeswhoregisteredbyUNHCRinEgypt,aswellasmorethan30.000SyrianregisteredinNorthAfrica.Asneighbouringcountries,Turkey,Lebanon,JordanandIraqhostalmost97%ofregisteredSyrianrefugeesregisteredbyUNHCRthisisexceptformorethan3millionSyrianrefugeeslivingundertemporaryprotectioninTurkey,whowereregisteredbytheGovernmentofTurkey.AccordingtotheMinistryofInteriorDirectorateGeneralofMigrationManagement,therehavebeen3,141,380officiallyregisteredSyriansundertemporaryprotectioninTurkeyasof17/08/2017.4InLebanon,1,001,051SyrianrefugeeswereregisteredbyUNHCR;howeverUNHCRLebanonhastemporarilysuspendednewregistrationasperGovernmentofLebanon'sinstructionsasof06/05/2015,andsoaccordinglyindividualsawaitingtoberegisteredarenotincludedinthisnumber.5

Jordanhostsmorethan650,000officiallyregisteredSyrianrefugees,whileMinisterofStateforMediaAffairsandgovernment'sspokespersonMohammadMomanistatesthattherearearound1.3millionSyrianrefugeesinJordan,representing

3‘SyriaRegionalRefugeeResponse’atInter-agencysharingportal,http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php[accessed29thSeptember,2017].4‘TemporaryProtection’,http://www.goc.gov.tr/icerik6/temporary-protection_915_1024_4748_icerik[accessed22thSeptember,2017].5‘SyriaRegionalRefugeeResponse’atInter-agencysharingportal,http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php[accessed29thSeptember,2017].

almost20percentofthecountry'spopulation(Ghazal,2017).

AccordingtotheUNHCR,244,235SyrianrefugeeswereregisteredinIraq6anditisestimatedthat97percentofSyrianrefugeesinIraqresideinKurdistan(KurdistanRegionalGovernment).Severalpermanentortransitionalcampshavebeenbuiltintheprimaryreceivingcountriestoaccommodatetherefugeepopulation,howeveronly9percentofregisteredrefugeesareregisteredasin-camppopulation.Therestofthemrepresenttheurbanrefugeeswholiveinurban,peri-urbanandruralareas.Demographically,femalerefugeesconstitutemorethan48percentoftherefugeepopulationandnearlyhalfofthetotalpersonsofconcernarechildren.

Demographicstatisticsrevealthevulnerabilityofrefugeecommunities,andbyextension,theurgencyofeducationalandculturalactionstobetakeninprimaryreceivingcountries.Inthenextsection,conceptualizingtheaccesstoinformationasafundamentalhumanrightandtheimportanceofculturalrightsofrefugeesinPRSswillbetheoreticallyassessedinconsiderationofthecurrentsituationinprimaryreceivingcountries.

TheImportanceofCulturalRightsinProtractedRefugeeSituations

Asdevelopingcountries,neighbouringcountriesofSyrianArabRepublicalreadyhadsocioeconomicproblemsanddifficultconditionsbeforetheSyriancrisisbegan.TheeffectsoftheSyrianrefugeecrisis,whichhasbeendescribedbyInternationalLabourOrganization(ILO)as“oneofthelargest,mostprotractedandcomplexhumanitarianemergenciesofmoderntimes”isincreasinglyspillingoverintoeconomicandsocialspheres–leadingtostalledeconomicactivity,lossofincome,andshrinkingaccesstoqualitypublic

6‘SyriaRegionalRefugeeResponse’atInter-agencysharingportal,http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php[accessed30thSeptember,2017].

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servicesinhostcountries.7Asmentionedinthefirstsection,oneofthemostimportantchallengesthatrefugeesfaceinprotractedsituationsislimitedaccesstopublicservices;andpublicservicesarenotlimitedtoimmediateneeds,includingfood,medicalaidandshelter,butarealsolegalprotection,educationandhealthcare.Conventionaldefinitionsof“life-saving”aidreferonlytobasicneedsofsurvivalincluding“food,medicalsuppliesandequipment,vaccines,waterandsanitationitems”(UNNewsCentre,2016).Theseneedsare,ofcourse,all-importanttosurvive,howeveranapproachbasedontheseneedsisinadequateinanysignificantresponsetheneedsofrefugeesinprotractedsituations.Notonlyrefugeesresidentincamps,butalsourbanrefugees,spendfiveyearsor–generally–moreinreceivingcountries,largelywithoutaccesstoinformationorconsistenteducation.Thisisacriticalperiod,especiallyforthechildrenandyoungrefugees.Infact,almosthalfoftheregisteredSyrianrefugeesinprimaryreceivingcountriesareundertheageof18,whichmeansthatthechildrenandyoungrefugeesspendtheirformativeyearseitherincampsorinurban,peri-urbanorruralareaswithouttheaccesstoinformationandconsistenteducation.Forthisreason,theaccessibilityoflibraries,internetanddigitalresources–accesstoinformation–shouldberegardedasacriticalneedinprotractedsituations.Suchanunderstandingwouldrefertothesignificanceofpublicservicesandtheurgencyofhavingaccesstothem.Livinginaprotractedrefugeesituationas“along-lastingandintractablestateoflimbo”makessuchaconceptualisationmuchmoreimportantforrefugeecommunities,toenablethemtobegindevelopingnewlifeperspectivesbutalsotopromotesocialcohesionbetweenrefugeesandbetweenthemandhostcommunities.Withthechallengescausedbyrefugeeoutflows,themultidimensionalcharacteristicofhumanrightscanbeeasilyignored,mostparticularlyduringprotractedrefugeesituationsitisallimportanttopromoteculturalrights.

7‘ILO’sResponsetoSyrianRefugeeCrisis’atILOTurkeywebsite,http://www.ilo.org/ankara/projects/WCMS_379375/lang--en/index.htm[accessed5thOctober,2017].

Asafundamentalhumanright,accesstoinformationprovidesabasisfortherefugeestoexercisetheirculturalrights.Accesstoinformationisoneofthemostimportantpre-conditionsoftheexercisingcivilandpoliticalrights,aswellaseconomic,socialandculturalrights–allofwhichareformallyrecognizedbytheInternationalBillofRights(specifically,theInternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights8andtheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights).9Theybotharticulatetheprincipleofself-determination,whichenableseveryonetodeterminetheirpoliticalstatusandpursuetheireconomic,socialandculturaldevelopmentfreely,andalsofacilitatestherightoffreedomofexpression(thefreedomtoseek,receiveandimpartinformationandideasofallkinds,regardlessoffrontiers,eitherorally,inwritingorinprint,intheformofart,orthroughanyothermedia).Regardlessoffrontiers,accesstointernetspecificallyasaculturalrightrevealsthemultidimensionalcharacterofhumanrightsandsoplaysacriticalroleinsocialparticipation.Asacentralmeansofbeingpartofagivencommunity,theinternetenablesanaccesstoculture,educationanddiscourse;itisabasisforsocialparticipation(Kettemann,2015).Ina2012Resolution,theUNHumanRightsCouncilcitedtheinternetas“anissueofincreasinginterestandimportanceastherapidpaceoftechnologicaldevelopment”andcalleduponallstates“topromoteandfacilitateaccesstotheinternet”(UN,2012).Twoyearslater,theParliamentaryAssemblyofCouncilofEuropepointedouttherelationshipbetweeninternetaccessandfundamentalrightsisinternaltodemocraticdevelopment;theresolutionstatedthat:

TheInternethasrevolutionisedthewaypeopleinteractandexercisetheirfreedomofexpressionandinformationaswellasrelatedfundamentalrights.Internetaccesstherefore

8‘InternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights’,http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx[accessed7thOctober,2017].9‘InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights’,http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx.[accessed7thOctober,2017].

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facilitatestheenjoymentofcultural,civilandpoliticalrights.Consequently,theAssemblyemphasisestheimportanceofaccesstotheInternetinademocraticsocietyinaccordancewithArticle10oftheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights(ETSNo.5).(CouncilofEurope,2014).

Theaccessibilityofinformation-relatedpublicservices–includinginternetandlibraries–providesasocio-legalbasisforapoliticalstruggle

againstsocioeconomicinequalities,andcouldhaveapositiveimpactincontributingtotheintegrationofrefugeesandhostcommunities–bypromotingsocialparticipationandemphasisingthemultidimensionalcharacteroffundamentalhumanrightsandtheimportanceofexercisingthem.Particularlyinprotractedrefugeesituationscausedbyrefugeeoutflowstodevelopingcountries,thesesourcescanmakeacrucialdifferenceineducation,employmentandintegration.DespitethechangeindefinitionofPRSthatnotonlyexilesituationsindevelopingcountriesshallbeconsideredasprotractedrefugeesituations,butalsoinanygivenasylumcountryaslongastheylastfiveyearsormore,mostexistingcasesofPRStakeplaceindevelopingandunder-developednationssincemostrefugees,inanattempttoescapeviolenceandpersecution,fleetoneighbouringstates(Schall,2013).Itshouldbenotedthatinsuchcasestheaccesstoinformationcanplayamorecriticalrole,asonecommentatorstates(Hayes,2016:236),theaccessibilityoflibrariesmeans

theyareacutelypositionedtocombatmisinformationaswellassocioeconomicinequality(Hayes,2016:236).

TheIdeasBoxisaprojectthatis“acutelypositioned”toprovideaccesstoinformation,cultureandeducationforbothhostandrefugeecommunitiesandtopromotetheculturalrightsofrefugeesanddevelopmentofnewperspectives.TheProjectIdeasBoxwaslaunchedbyLibrariesWithoutBorders(LWB)in2014toextendthebenefitsoflibrariestoisolatedcommunitiesandprovideaccesstoinformationfortheminpost-disastercontextsandiscarriedoutbytheGoethe-Institutincooperationwithlocalpartners,LWBandthefinancialsupportofGermanFederalForeignOfficeinprimaryreceivingcountriesforSyrianrefugees.ThenextsectionwillbrieflyassesstheGoethe-Institut’sculturalandeducationalframeworkandprioritiesalongwithIdeasBoxasanexemplarinpromotingtheculturalrightsofrefugeesinthecontextoftheSyriacrisis.

Goethe-Institut'sResponsetoSyrianCrisisandIdeasBoxProjectasanExampletoPromotingCulturalRightsofRefugeeCommunities

AstheculturalinstituteoftheFederalRepublicofGermanywithaglobalreach,theGoethe-InstitutpromotesknowledgeoftheGermanlanguage,fostersinternationalculturalpartnershipsandconveysanup-to-dateimageofGermany.Goethe-Institutsareactivein98countriesworldwideanditsnetworkincludesmorethan1,000pointsofcontact,consistingofexaminationCentres,teachingmaterialscentres,Germanreadingrooms,partnerlibrariesandinformationcentres,Goethe-centres,foreign-Germanlearningcentresandlanguagelearningcentres(TheGoethe-Institut,2017).Inparallelwiththeaimtofosterinternationalculturalcooperation,theGoethe-Institutencouragesinterculturaldialogueandcontributestodevelopmentofstructuresincivilsociety,aswellasculturalexchangebyimplementingculturalandeducationalprojectsandprogrammeswithitslocal,regionalandinternationalpartnersinrelatedfields.

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Withintheinstitutionalframework,andwithover60yearsexperienceininternationalcooperationinthefieldofculture,educationandlanguage,theGoethe-InstitutcarriesoutitsprojectsandprogrammesinGermanyand12regionsaroundtheworldaccordingtovariousregionalconcerns.TheSyrianCrisisisalsooneofthementionedconcerns,butitisnotlimitedtobearegionalconcernintheSoutheasternEuropeandNorthAfrica/MiddleEastregions.AsaresultoftheoutbreakofCivilWarandgeneralisedviolenceinSyria,millionsofpeoplewereforcedtoleavethecountryandfleetotheprimaryreceivingcountries.ManyoftheSyrianrefugeesliveinprotractedrefugeesituationsinprimaryreceivingcountriesassomeofthemareinexileinEurope.TheGoethe-InstitutDamascus,whichisestablishedin1955(andwasoneofthefirstinstitutesworldwide)wasclosedin2012duetothesecuritysituation;however,cultural,educationalandcivilsociety-orientedprojectsandprogrammescarriedon.InGermanyandotherregions,theGoethe-InstituthasrespondedtoSyrianCrisisbycarryingoutseveralprojects:in2016itcreatedasymbolicplaceforculturalencountersinBerlin,aprojectconsistingofdiscussions,workshops,filmseries,installations,exhibitions,concertsandperformances,asapartofitsresponsetotheforceddisplacementandexile.10

BesidesitsprojectsinEurope,theGoethe-Institutalsoimplementsculturalandeducationalprojectsinprimaryreceivingcountriesforrefugeecommunitiesbothincampsandurbanenvironments.AccordingtoUNHCR,over60percentoftheworld's19.5millionrefugeesand80percentof34millionIDPsliveinurbanenvironmentsandrefugeeslivinginurbanareasmaybevulnerableaswell:

Unlikeacamp,citiesallowrefugeestoliveanonymously,makemoneyandbuildabetterfuture.Buttheyalsopresentdangers.Refugeesmaybevulnerabletoexploitation,arrest

10‘DamascusinExile–Berlin’,https://www.goethe.de/en/uun/ver/dix.html[accessed16thOctober,2017].

ordetention,andcanbeforcedtocompetewiththepoorestlocalworkersfortheworstjobs.11

Bothurbanrefugeesandrefugeeslivingincampscanfacetheabovementionedproblems,mostparticularlyinPRSrespondingtotheneedsofrefugeecommunitiesshouldbetakenintoaccountwithalong-termperspective.Oneofthemostimportantpointstobeemphasisedisthatoncetheimmediateneedshavebeenmet,communitiesneedtobeginrebuildingthemselvesandtoooften,thetoolstobuildthefuturearelacking.12Inthisregarditshouldbenotedthataneedforanewmodelofeducationemergesinpost-disastercontextstoenablerefugeecommunitiestobeginrebuilding.Hayesstates,thatLibrariesWithoutBordersisparticularlycommittedtothetransformative,lifesavingreliefthatalternativelibraryspacescanprovideinpost-disastercontexts:

Asanorganizationcommittedtotherecognitionofeducationasahumanright,asoutlinedintheUnitedNation’sUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights,LibrariesWithoutBordersworkstobringadaptable,technologicallyempowerededucationsolutionstothemostisolatedandunder-resourcedcommunitiesworldwide(Hayes,2016:237).

TheIdeasBoxisoneofmentionedsolutionswhichiscreatedbyLibrariesWithoutBordersalongwiththeUNHCRandtheFrenchDesignerPhilippeStarckin2014,aportablemultimediatoolkit,amobileclassroomandmediacentrethatfitsontwoshippingpalletsandcanbesetupinlessthan20minutes.Standardized,easilymovableanddeployableinthefield,energeticallyself-sufficient,easytouseandsolid,IdeasBoxisamajorinnovationforaccesstocultureand

11‘UrbanRefugees’http://www.unhcr.org/urban-refugees.html[accessed16thOctober,2017].12‘DiscovertheIdeasBox’https://www.ideas-box.org/index.php/en/the-ideas-box/discover-the-ideas-box.[accessed18thOctober,2017].

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informationincrisissituations.13Asauniqueconceptofmultimedialibrariesforpeopleinpost-disastercontexttheIdeasBoxincludesfourappealinglydesignedboxesfullofpaperandelectronicbooks,laptops,tablets,cameras,GPSdevices,games,asatelliteinternetconnectionandalargescreenforfilmscreenings.TheequipmentincludesalsoapreloadeddigitalserverthatcreatesaWi-FihotspotthatenablesthebeneficiariestoconnecttothedigitaleducationalresourcesincludingCoursera,WikipediaandKhanAcademy.Furthermore,IdeasBoxcontentsarecustomizedtotheneeds,theexpectationsandthelanguageofthecommunities.Withtheequipmentscorrespondingtovariousneedsofcommunities,IdeasBox'sself-paced,diversecontentsallowusersofallagestocraftapersonalizededucationalexperience(Hayes,2016:237).

TheIdeasBoxcanbedescribedasamobileclassroom,whichcanbeconstructedinlessthan20minutes.Each‘box’iscustomizedforaspecificusage,butcanalsobereorganizedasneeded.The‘orange’boxisthelibrarymoduleandwhichcancontainupto300paperbooksandadozenboardandcommunitygames.The‘blue’boxhousesavideoprojectorwithasoundsystem,aHDtelevisionandagenerator,allofwhichmakeoutdoorscreeningspossible.Laptops,tablets,GPSdevicesandcamerasareinthe‘green’box,wherealltheequipmentsareprotectedinfoamencasing.Theadministrationmodule,the‘yellow’box,containsthenetworkandpowersystems.

TheProjectisregionallycoordinatedbyaRegionalProjectCoordinatorfromGoethe-InstitutinAnkara/TurkeyandlocallycoordinatedbytheCountryProjectCoordinatorsinthecapitalsofTurkey,KurdistanRegionofNorthernIraq,LebanonandJordan.InTurkeytheprojectisimplementedincooperationwithYUVAAssociationandtheIdeasBoxislocatedinthe

13‘LibrariesWithoutBordersandPhilippeStarckDevelopIdeasBox:MultimediaLibrariesinKitFormfortheRefugeesPopulations’,http://www.starck.com/en?i=libraries-without-borders-and-philippe-starck-develop-ideas-box-multimedia-libraries-in-kit-form-for-the-refugees-popoulations&q=ideas%20box.[accessed18thOctober,2017].

CommunityCenterofYUVAAssociationinHatay,asoutheasterncityofTurkey.InNorthernIraqthelocalpartneroftheprojectisTerredesHommesItalyandtheIdeasBoxisinserviceinDebagaRefugeeCamp.TheGoethe-InstitutLibanonimplementstheprojectincooperationwithInterSOSinBeirut;andinJordantheprojectiscarriedoutintheCommunityCenterofCareInternationalinAzraqCity.

TheIdeasBoxactivitiesatallIDB-locationsarecarriedoutbytheIDB-Managers,whomanagetheboxesandprepareweeklyschedulesinconsultationwithprojectcoordinatorsandeducationandlivelihoodofficersofpartnerorganisations.Weeklyschedulesprovidesanoverviewofcoursesofferedandthetimeswhentheequipmentcanbeused(Hesen,2017)andtheyareupdatedaccordinglytotheneed-basedconcernsineachlocation.Accordingtoweeklyschedulesreadingcircles,tablet,computerandcameraclasses,filmscreenings,groupsforcommunityandvideogamesaresupervisedbyIDB-Managersandadditionallytrainingcoursesonvarioussubjectsincludingstorytelling,pantomime

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andradio-workshopsareorganized.Throughtheweekly-plannedactivitiesandtrainingcoursestheparticipantsarenotonlyacquiringtechnicalandforeignlanguageskills;inaddition,theyaretakingpartinthereadingcirclesanddiscussions,andthustheboxeshelpinterestedpersonsdeveloptheirownideationalspaces(Hesen,2017).

AtthispointitshouldbenotedthattheGoethe-Institutaimstoensurethattheprojectenablesnotonlyrefugeecommunitiesbutalsovulnerablepopulationsinanygivenprojectcountrytodeveloptheirtechnicalandlearningskillsand,aboveall,thattheboxesbecome‘meetingpoints’forboth,refugeeandhostcommunities.InthisregarditcanbestatedthatoneofthemainobjectivesoftheprojectIdeasBoxistostrengthensocialcohesionbetweenrefugeeandhostcommunitiesinurbanenvironmentsbyimplementingprojectactivities.Thisobjectiveisdirectlylinkedtotheresponseofinternationalcommunitytosocioeconomicproblemsthatincreasedaftertherefugeeoutflowinprimaryreceivingcountries.Bothincampsandurbanenvironmentsitisofparamountimportanceforemploymentandsocialcohesiontohelppeoplewhohavenotyethadtrainingtointegrateintothelabourmarket.AsstatedinannualreportoftheGoethe-Institut,thematerialsofIdeasBoxbreakupthemonotonyofeverydaylifeinthecampandofferinterestedpeopleachancetopreparethemselvesformodernworkinglife(Hesen,2017).Inurbanareas,similarly,theIdeasBoxesareasafeplaceforinformaleducation,informationandtrainingforchildren,adolescentsandadultswhohavelimitedornoaccesstolibrariesorothersourcesofinformaleducation,andalsoofferrefugeesanddisadvantagedgroupstheopportunitytomeetandinteract.AsPhilippeStarck,creatoroftheIdeasBoxstated,breakingupthemonotonyofeverydaylifeandcreatingcreativespacesforthepeoplewhowereforcedtofleetheirhomes,isallimportantinthesensethat:

Aboveall,thisproject’sessenceisaboutdreaming.Thisdreamisparticularlyimportantwhenoneloseseverything.Whenyouloseeverythingyouhad,theonlything

youcannotbedeprivedfromisdreaming14

ConcludingRemarks

ThereremainsanurgencyfornewapproachestoculturalrightsasexemplifiedbytheunprecedentedsituationofrefugeesduringPRSandtheresponseintheformoftheIdeasBox.Theprojectisanexampleofculturalrightsthroughinformation,learningandcommunication,andcreatesanimprovisedsocialspaceforrefugeesinastateoftransiencebecauseoftheSyriancrisis.Inparallelwiththisaim,thecharacteristicsofPRSneedtobesubjecttofurtheranalysis,asthecurrentsituationinprimaryreceivingcountriesforSyrianrefugeesisexpandingandbecomingmorecomplex.TheGoethe-Institut’sresponseisperhapsamodelofimplementationandaconceptualisationoftheneedsofrefugees.

Theactivitiescarriedoutwithintheframeoftheprojectnotonlyhelptheparticipantstodeveloptheircommunicativeandtechnicalskills,butalsofamiliarisethemwiththenecessityforculturaldiversity(Hesen,2017).Thisisparticularlytrueforthechildrenwhoattendtheprojectactivities,learningthevalueofsharingandsolidaritythroughexperience,whichisasignificantlong-termgoal.Inparallelwiththeaimtopromotesocialcohesion,theimportanceoflong-termplanningshouldnotbeignored.

References

CouncilofEurope(2014)ParliamentaryAssemblyResolution1987TheRighttoInternetAccess.http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=20870&lang=en.[accessed15thOctober,2017].Ghazal,M.(2017)‘Jordanhosts657,000registeredSyrianrefugees’,TheJordanTimes,21March.Availableat: http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/jordan-hosts-657000-registered-syrian-refugees.[accessed28thSeptember,2017].

14‘LibrariesWithoutBordersandPhilippeStarckDevelopIdeasBox:MultimediaLibrariesinKitFormfortheRefugeesPopulations’,http://www.starck.com/en?i=libraries-without-borders-and-philippe-starck-develop-ideas-box-multimedia-libraries-in-kit-form-for-the-refugees-popoulations&q=ideas%20box[accessed19thOctober,2017].

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