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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Chair: Larry Bao

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Contents

Letter from the Chair…….………………………...……………………...…..3 Committee Description………………………………………………………4

Topic A:…………………..…..………………….....……………..……..……6 Introduction…..………………………………….……………………….……………6

History of the Topic………………………..……………………….……….…………7

Current Status…………………………………….……………..…………...…………9

Country Policy…...…………………………………………….……………………...14

Keywords……………………………………....………………...…………….…..….15

Questions for Consideration………..…………….………………...…….……….…...16

Topic B:…………………………....…………………..…………………….17 Introduction……..………………………...……………………………………..……17 History of the Topic.………………………….………………..………………...……17 Current Status………………………………………………………………………....20 Country Policy.….…………………...……………...…..……………………………..25 Keywords………………………………………………………………………….......27 Questions for Consideration...........…………….……………………..………………..27

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Letter from the Chair

Dear Delegates,

It is an honor to be your chair for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in PMUNC 2016! I’m excited to hear all you have to offer as we attempt to address the Syrian refugee crisis and protect refugees’ religious freedoms.

First, a little bit about myself. I am currently a sophomore at Princeton, majoring in Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE) with a certificate in computer science. I attended PMUNC myself as a high school student, and joined the Princeton Model U.N. team as a freshman. Outside of Model U.N., I am a member of Princeton’s Heavyweight Rowing team, and I also occasionally play in regional tournaments for the table tennis club. I’ve always been interested in economics, politics, finance, and international affairs, and I love hearing opposing viewpoints in debate – which is how I came to do Model U.N. in the first place.

As for our committee, I expect to run an orderly and clean committee, despite our high number of delegates. I guarantee that you will have a good time in this committee as long as you are not disruptive. Model U.N. is a competition, but it is also a forum for meeting new people, engaging in passionate debate, and having a great time at the delegate dance. As such, do not let the competition negatively affect your actions here. Note that I was a high school delegate and still compete in Model U.N. now, so I understand rule-breaking that happens in committees – pre-written resolutions and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated. We will follow parliamentary procedure as used in the United Nations, which includes moderated caucuses, unmoderated caucuses, speaker’s list, and voting procedure. I understand that this is the first conference for many of you, and mistakes are inevitable. Do not worry too much about this: we will be going over parliamentary procedure in committee and you will learn quickly.

We have two topics for our committee: the Syrian refugee crisis, and protecting the religious freedom of refugees. I expect to spend majority of the committee on one of the topics, which you will vote on as a committee in our first session. Coming to a resolution in a General Assembly is often a long process, so we may or may not have time to finish the second topic. As such, come prepared to discuss both of the topics at great length.

The best advice I can give you for this committee is to stick to your country’s position. As you research our topics and grow passionate about them, it is extremely easy to use your own viewpoints as your country’s position. Moreover, in debate, do not forget your country’s position, even if it opposes your own. For all intents and purposes, in committee, you are representing your country in the United Nations – your own viewpoint does not matter.

I’m looking forward to an amazing conference with all of you!

Larry Bao

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Committee Description

The High Commissioner for Refugees was established by the United Nations General

Assembly on January 1, 1951 in the aftermath of World War II to help the millions of

displaced Europeans who had fled their homes. The HCR’s primary purpose is to cooperate

with governments on all issues concerning refugees, and the HCR provides social and

humanitarian aid to refugees by transforming governmental policies to bring them into

compliance with international standards.1 Moreover, the commissioner can provide aid to

refugees through cash-based intervention, boosting local economies and giving locals the

money they need to fulfill their basic needs.

An executive committee of the UNHCR was originally established with twenty-four

member states, elected by the Economic and Social Council on the basis of selecting the

widest possible geographical basis from countries with a demonstrated interest in refugee

problems. As of 2010, the UNHCR executive committee is composed of 79 states, with

representatives in over 125 countries around the world. The executive committee advises the

High Commissioner on his or her actions and reviews and approves the programs proposed

by the High Commissioner. Thus, in all instances concerning controversy over international

refugee crises, the High Commissioner requests the opinion of committee.

The powers of the High Commissioner for Refugees include:

1. Presiding over the ratification of international conventions for the protection of

refugees, and supervising their application

2. Forming agreements with governments to improve the situations of refugees and

enforce the execution of such measures

1 UNHCR. "Advocacy." UNHCR News. http://www.unhcr.org/advocacy.html.

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3. Assisting efforts to promote assimilation of refugees within new communities

4. Promoting the admission of refugees to the territories of States

5. Obtaining statistics from governments concerning the number and condition of

refugees within their States

6. Facilitating the coordination of efforts by private organizations concerning the

welfare of refugees

7. Administer funds to private and public agencies that are deemed to be the most

qualified to administer assistance2

Note that the main function of the High Commissioner for Refugees is to provide

monetary assistance and coordinate public and private efforts to aid refugees. While the

High Commissioner for Refugees can encourage governments to open their borders to

refugees, it does not have jurisdiction to infringe upon national sovereignty; it cannot force

States to do anything. Thus, the UNHCR exercises its influence through releasing reports,

collecting statistics, allocating funds in the most efficient method possible, and encouraging

certain governmental policies. When it started, the UNHCR had a budget of only $300,000,

but it has since grown. As of 2013, the UNHCR had an annual budget of USD $5.3 billion

for its programs in addressing issues such as the Syrian refugee crisis.3

In preparing for the Princeton Model U.N. conference, delegates are encouraged to read

into the history of the UNHCR, especially focusing on how the UNHCR has addressed

issues in the past. Employing the powers of the UNHCR correctly is crucial in drafting

resolutions, as well as in maintaining the legitimacy of the committee as a whole.

2 United Nations General Assembly. Statute of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. 3 UNHCR. “Figures at a Glance.” UNHCR News. http://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html

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Topic A: Syrian Refugee Crisis

Introduction:

The Syrian refugee crisis is widely regarded as the worst refugee crisis of our time,

and with good reason. Every year of the conflict, we have seen exponential growth in the

number of refugees. 13.5 million people in Syria require assistance because of the violent

civil war, which started in March 2011, and 4.7 million still need help. 4These people are

being deprived of their basic human rights as defined by the United Nations, including the

right to clean water. As a result, families are faced with two options: flee to another country

in Europe, or brave the conditions in Syria. Escaping Syria is dangerous enough – families

must walk through the night, avoiding snipers and militants who kidnap young men for their

war needs. Yet even after making it to another country, many Syrians still struggle to cross

the border and assimilate to the new culture.

The U.N. and other NGOs have made efforts to address the issue. Refugee camps

have opened in neighboring countries for Syrians, and these camps often provide a sense of

structure and support. However, these camps are becoming increasingly packed, so other

families opt to live in nearby towns, seeking shelter anywhere they can find it. Moreover,

many refugees simply cannot escape to foreign countries – and as a result, the majority of

refugees live away from camps.

In addition, disease runs rampant in refugee camps. Lack of clean water combined

with living in close quarters make it easy for diseases such as cholera to spread. More than

half of these refugees are children, so in addition to being prone to disease, they do not have

4 "Quick Facts: What You Need to Know about the Syria Crisis." Mercy Corps. 2016. Accessed July 29, 2016.

https://www.mercycorps.org/articles/iraq-jordan-lebanon-syria-turkey/quick-facts-what-you-need-know-about-syria-crisis.

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access to education, and are often forced to work to help their families pay costs. The U.N.

estimated in 2015 that over $7 billion was needed to address the needs of the most

vulnerable refugees – a cost greater than the current UNHCR budget.5

History:

In 2011, Arab Spring related uprisings for democracy sparked the movement in

Syria, after students who put up anti-government graffiti were tortured. The government

responded with military intervention, and news of the protests quickly reached the rest of

the country. After President Bashar al-Assad sent in tanks to open fire on the protestors,

thousands of soldiers turned against the Assad regime and defected, and an opposing

government was formed, resulting in the beginnings of the civil war.6

The Syrian conflict has attracted attention on the international stage. Syria was

expelled from the Arab League for opening fire on protestor after having agreed to a peace

treaty. Closely following this, the United Nations General Assembly voted in 2012 to

condemn Assad’s violent crackdown on the uprising and demanded his resignation. While

the decision could not be enforced, as the United Nations does not have jurisdiction over

such matters, the decision was humiliating for the Assad regime, especially as many of its

Arab League counterparts voted against Syria. Another resolution was proposed prior to this

that gave the U.N. more jurisdiction to intervene, but countries such as Russia and China

5 "U.N. Launches $7 Billion Appeal for Syrian Refugees." Newsweek. December 18, 2014.

Accessed July 29, 2016. http://www.newsweek.com/united-nations-launches-7-billion-appeals-syrian-refugee-crisis-292861.

6 "Conflict Background." I AM SYRIA. Accessed July 29, 2016. http://www.iamsyria.org/conflict-background.html.

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vetoed this resolution to preserve national sovereignty.7 Following the resolution, the

conflict escalated quickly, and the Assad regime began arresting tens of thousands of

protestors. Opposition took the name of the “Free Syrian Army” and began receiving

support from across the border from countries such as Turkey.

The United Nations Human Rights Council established the Independent

International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic in August 2011 to

monitor human rights law violations. The commission found both sides of the conflict guilty

of human rights violations, which included murder, rape, trafficking, and denying civilians

basic liberties such as food and water.8 In 2013, the Assad regime was found guilty of using

chemical weapons against civilians, despite warnings from the White House and the United

Nations. President Obama released his “red line” declaration, in which he claimed that the

use of chemical weapons would “bring dire consequences for Mr. Assad and his forces.”9

Eventually, the United States, Russia, and Syria secured an international agreement which

mandated that Syria destroy most of its chemical weapons stockpile, without any need for

force by the United States. The removal of the weapons was a joint mission by the United

Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the destruction

was completed. However, chemical attacks are still being reported even today, but the

7 Gladstone, Rick. "General Assembly Votes to Condemn Syrian Leader." The New York Times.

2012. Accessed July 29, 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/world/middleeast/secretary-general-ban-ki-moon-castigates-syria-ahead-of-general-assembly-vote.html?hp.

8 Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. Accessed July 29,

2016. http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/iicisyria/pages/independentinternationalcommission.aspx.

9 Wolfgang, Ben. "Obama ‘red Line’ Erased as Bashar Assad’s Chemical Weapons Use Goes Unchecked by U.S. Military." Washington Times. Accessed July 29, 2016. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/17/obama-red-line-erased-as-assad-chemical-weapons-us/.

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United States government has not responded to these in any form of foreign policy. The

United Nations also adopted Resolution 68/182 on December 18, 2013, expressing

“outrage” at the “widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights… including

those involving the use of… cluster munitions.” 10

In 2014, both the government and pro-government militias increased their attacks on

highly-populated civilian areas. As a result of the escalation, the United Nations Security

Council passed a resolution on February 22, 2014 demanding that all parties cease

“indiscriminate employment of weapons in populated areas, including shelling and aerial

bombardment, such as the use of barrel bombs” and the release of all people that had been

kidnapped as a result of the war.11 Syria still refused to comply, resulting in another

resolution on July 14, 2014 authorizing U.N. agencies to deliver supplies across Syria’s

borders and conflict lines. As a result of the increasing involvement of terrorist groups in the

conflict, in resolution 2178, the Security Council urged nearby countries to undertake

counter-terrorism measures, including border control and increased screening.

Current Situation:

Syrian refugees have many needs that must be addressed. They lack basic items to

sustain themselves, including food, clothing, healthcare, and shelter. Crowded refugee camps

have led to a shortage of clean water and a lack of sanitation. Children need a way to attain

schooling in a safe manner. Adults need employment opportunities to begin working

10 "World Report 2015: Syria." Human Rights Watch. 2015. Accessed July 29, 2016.

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/syria. 11 "World Report 2015: Syria." Human Rights Watch. 2015. Accessed July 29, 2016.

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/syria.

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towards sustaining themselves in the future. Moreover, the war is currently not getting better,

leading to even more Syrians fleeing their homes and further exacerbating the problem.

Syrian children are in desperate need of assistance. 3.7 million Syrian children have

been born within the time frame of the conflict, meaning that one in three Syrian children

has never lived a life outside of the conflict.12 Without fully developed immune systems,

children are more susceptible to diseases like cholera, especially without sanitary living

conditions. Many children also work to support their families, instead of receiving education,

and often receive very little compensation whilst working in dangerous conditions in

unregulated work environments. According to the United Nations Children’s Agency, the

war has reversed education for Syrians by ten years.13 UNICEF launched the “No Lost

Generation Initiative” which is committed to restoring the education system for Syrian

children, but UNICEF has only received 6% of the funding required in 2016 to support

Syrian children.14 In addition, girls are often forced to marry as early as thirteen years old in

order to support their families.

Child soldiers have also become a major issue in Syria. While in 2014, the child

soldiers were mostly above the age of fifteen, armed groups have started recruiting child

soldiers as young as seven years old. All factions of the Syrian conflict have recruited child

soldiers for use in the war, including units that are not pro- or anti- regimen. Many armed

12 "1 in 3 Syrian Children Have Grown up Knowing Only Crisis as Conflict Reaches 5 Year

Point – UNICEF." ChildrenofSyria. 2016. Accessed July 30, 2016. http://childrenofsyria.info/2016/03/14/1-in-3-syrian-children-have-grown-up-knowing-only-crisis-as-conflict-reaches-5-year-point-unicef/.

13 "Displacement and Family Separation for Syrian Refugee Children | Faith to Action." Faith to Action. Accessed July 30, 2016. http://faithtoaction.org/2015/12/displacement-and-family-separation-for-syrian-refugee-children/.

14 "1 in 3 Syrian Children Have Grown up Knowing Only Crisis as Conflict Reaches 5 Year Point – UNICEF." ChildrenofSyria. 2016. Accessed July 30, 2016. http://childrenofsyria.info/2016/03/14/1-in-3-syrian-children-have-grown-up-knowing-only-crisis-as-conflict-reaches-5-year-point-unicef/.

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groups merely recruit child soldiers to defend their communities from potential invasive

groups. However, it is noteworthy that many of these child soldiers are volunteers, as child

soldiers receive higher wages than their counterparts working in unsanitary living conditions.

Some groups that employ child soldiers acknowledge the cruelty of this, but see it as a

necessary evil. For instance, although the armed faction Hezbollah at one point proudly

stated that it did not use child soldiers, it has since begun accepting minors for its army.

However, other groups actively seek out child soldiers to fill their ranks.15

One major point of contention is whether countries should intervene in the Syrian

conflict. Those in favor of providing assistance cite besieged towns and internally displaced

Syrians. However, those opposing intervention claim that only 620,000 Syrians received aid

from United Nations convoys in 2015 after Russia entered the conflict, compared to 2.9

million in 2013 – perhaps suggesting that Russia’s intervention did not, in fact, help people

receive the supplies they need.16 Countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia have proposed

that a “no-fly” safe zone be created near the Turkish border where civilians could receive

humanitarian aid and protection from bombardment. However, opponents of the creation

of such a zone could bring any forces in contact with either Russian air forces or Syrian air

defenses, perhaps even escalating the conflict. They worry that such a zone could turn into

countries creating their own zones of interest, perhaps prolonging the conflict. Moreover,

opponents of the policy claim that rebel groups may choose to use the safe zone for their

own needs, and it would be difficult to differentiate civilians from rebels.

15 US News. Accessed July 30, 2016. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-

report/2015/02/13/the-rise-of-child-soldiers-in-syria.

16 "It's Time to Admit That American Intervention Can't Fix Syria." Cato Institute. 2016.

Accessed July 30, 2016. http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/its-time-admit-american-intervention-cant-fix-syria.

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Another major point of contention is whether countries should open their borders to

Syrian refugees. On one hand, countries fear that opening their borders to Syrian refugees

will expose them to terrorists who infiltrate the resettlement system. However, the United

Nations called on Turkey to open its borders to more Syrian refugees in 2016, given that

Turkey’s current policy is that it will let refugees in only in emergency situations. Turkey’s

government claims that Turkey already hosts over 2.5 million refugees, who strain the

country’s economy, and the Turkish government has also called it unfair that neighboring

countries must host the majority of the refugees while other countries do not assist them.17

Relevantly, this graphic shows where many Syrian refugees are applying for asylum in

Europe:

In our committee, I would like to see discussion on whether countries can safely open

borders to fleeing Syrian refugees, how they would do so, and the international community’s

obligation to assist Syria’s neighboring countries with the economic burdens.

17 "UN Urges Turkey to Open Border for Syrian Refugees." Al Jazeera. Accessed July 30, 2016.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/syrian-refugees-turkey-open-border-160209131028173.html.

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In December of 2015, the U.N. Security Council endorsed a peace plan backed by

the United States and Russia, citing goals such as a new government system with free and

fair elections within 1.5 years. In February of 2016, the Syrian government and opposing

forces agreed to cease hostilities as peace talks began in Geneva. Though there have been

violations of this peace agreement, violence in Syria has surprisingly decreased greatly since

the agreement.18 However, the peace talks are unlikely to reach a conclusion. Historically,

civil wars do not end with peace talks – they end in a decisive victory. Accordingly, in the

peace talks, rebel groups demand that Assad’s regime is ousted entirely. As it currently

stands, neither side is likely to offer any concessions to the other; thus we cannot depend on

the peace talks to resolve the conflict entirely.

A number of NGOs have risen to help Syrian refugees, but funding is still far from

enough. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has provided $157 million to

provide humanitarian assistance for refugees, and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

has worked to provide better living conditions and education facilities for refugees.19 Other

NGOs partnered with the UNHCR include Save the Children, Oxfam America, Relief

International, and the International Rescue Committee.

Therefore, solutions to the Syrian refugee crisis are highly complex in nature. While

refugees seek asylum, countries are reluctant to open their borders to let them in due to

economic and security concerns. Some claim that further international intervention in the

conflict is needed, while others believe that intervention with further exacerbate the conflict.

Moreover, much more money is needed to fund aid for refugees, yet this aid is not readily

available. With this in mind, think about how the United Nations’ limited funds can be more

18 "The Geneva Peace Talks." The Atlantic. Accessed July 30, 2016. http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/03/syria-geneva-peace-talks/476034/. 19 Syria: Unprecedented humanitarian needs entail record budget, International Committee of the Red Cross, 2014.

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efficiently spent to resolve help refugees. Taking into account your country’s situation (both

economic and political), consider your country’s stances on intervention and how to best aid

refugees in this crisis.

Country Policy

Russia plays a very large role in the Syrian refugee crisis. Russia backs Syrian

President al-Assad as the survival of the Assad regime is crucial to Russia interests in the

country. Russia has voted against resolutions critical of President Assad in the U.N. Security

Council, and it supplies weapons to the Syrian government. Russia has also positioned forces

in Syria upholding the regime and has perhaps played the largest role in intervening in the

conflict. It owns a naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartous and owns an air base in

Lataka.20

The United States has claimed that President Assad’s regime should be removed

from power, and accordingly supports Syria’s opposition alliance. It supplies very limited

military assistance to certain rebel groups. The United States has not directly attacked

Assad’s forces, though it has launched air strikes against terrorist groups occupying the

region. Moreover, though countries have pressured the U.S. for greater intervention such as

the creation of a no-fly zone or stronger military intervention, the U.S. government has done

neither.

Saudi Arabia agrees that the Assad regime must be removed from power, and has

provided major military and financial assistance to rebel groups. It has called for the creation

20 "Syria Crisis: Where Key Countries Stand." BBC News. Accessed July 30, 2016.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-23849587.

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of a no-fly zone, and has pushed the Obama administration to intervene in Syria since 2013

when Assad employed chemical weapons against civilians.

Turkey also wants to topple the Assad regime. Turkey has hosted nearly two million

refugees since the conflict began, but its open-border policies have been exploited by

terrorist groups in the past.

Iran is said to be providing a large amount of military and financial assistance to

President Assad’s regime, including weapons and oil. Men from both Iraq and Iran have

begun fighting for Syria, claiming that they are protecting Shia holy sites. Iran has advocated

for peace in Syria, including demands for democratic elections.

China claims that political settlement is the only way that the Syrian refugee crisis can

be solved, and proposed an immediate cease-fire. It opposes the Assad regime’s use of

chemical weapons. However, China hasn’t let refugees cross its borders for a variety of

reasons. It claims that the conflict is the fault of Western nations and that its resolution is up

to them. Moreover, Chinese political ideology discourages the acceptance of foreign

migrants.21 Lastly, with its population control measures, there is little support for refugee

resettlement programs.

Keywords

Resettlement

Russia

No-fly zone

Basic human rights

21 "Why China Isn't Hosting Syrian Refugees." Foreign Policy Why China Isnt Hosting Syrian

Refugees Comments. Accessed July 30, 2016. http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/26/china-host-syrian-islam-refugee-crisis-migrant/.

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Shia / Shiite

Chemical weapons

Aleppo

Government

Intervention

Funding

Questions to Consider:

1. How should the UNHCR’s limited funds be spent to most efficiently aid refugees?

2. To what extent is external intervention needed?

3. Is there a need for a new government? And if so, how should a transitional

government be managed in the mean time?

4. How can we protect the rights of children in this conflict? How can we ensure that

refugees maintain their basic human rights?

5. What role should the United States play in resolving this issue?

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Topic B: Religious Freedom of Refugees

Introduction:

Refugees are currently facing discrimination and persecution due to their religious

beliefs. For instance, as the minority religious group among Syrians, Christians are facing

persecution by jihadist groups who have pushed Christians from their homes, burned

Christian churches, and even murdered Christians after claiming that they are infidels.

Christian refugees are unable to fight back and are thus forced to flee. Similarly, even after

fleeing the dangerous war environment, Muslim refugees who have fled to Europe are being

discriminated against as the extremist minority group, and are often faced with unequal job

and educational opportunities. The European population generally looks unfavorably upon

letting more Muslims into the country.

Furthermore, tensions between Shiite Muslims and Sunni Muslims mean that

refugees of these religious backgrounds can face persecution even in other Muslim states.

Both sides claim that the other side are “infidels,” and the conflict has increasingly become

one of theology rather than merely a civil war.

How can the High Commissioner protect the religious freedoms of refugees in a war

that is increasingly focused on religion? How can the High Commissioner ensure that

refugees of all religions find acceptance in other countries?

History:

The Sunni and Shiite conflict is the oldest conflict in the history of Islam. While the

two sects have many of the same beliefs and practices, they differ in their doctrine and

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theology. This conflict has torn communities apart for generations, as leaders of the sects are

often in competition with one another. 85-90% of the Muslims in the world are Sunni

Muslims, and Sunnis make up more than 90% of the populations of Egypt, Jordan, and

Saudi Arabia.22 Shia Muslims make up the majority in countries such as Iran and Iraq, and

there is a sizable faction of Shia Muslims in Syria as well.

Shias claim that Ali, Muhammad’s son, was the rightful successor to the Prophet

Muhammad following his death. However, Sunnis believe that Muhammad had no rightful

heir and that a religious leader should be elected by a vote, rather than by blood. The two

sects also differ on the concept of Mahdi, or the “guided one.” Sunnis claim that the Mahdi

has not been born yet, whereas the Shiites believe that the Mahdi was born in 869 A.D. and

will return when Allah wishes it.

Al Qaeda has supported Sunni Muslims and has been known to commit hate crimes

against Shiite Muslims. Issues such as the civil war in Syria have made these tensions

increasingly clear, and when refugees flee to areas not predominantly following their religion,

they find themselves shunned from society.

Similarly, the situation of Christians in Middle Eastern countries is complex.

Christians form approximately 5% of the Middle East population, down from 20% in the

20th century (possibly as a result of persecution). For instance, it was estimated that nearly

850,000 Christians have fled Iraq because of sectarian divisions and discrimination.23 In

Syria, 80,000 Christians were “cleansed” from their homes in the Homs Province by the Free

22 "Sunnis and Shia: Islam's Ancient Schism." BBC News. Accessed August 05, 2016.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-16047709.

23 Willey, David. "Rome 'crisis' Talks on Middle East Christians." BBC News. Accessed

September 09, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-11509256.

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Syrian Army in March of 2012. Rebel fighters have also detonated car bombs in Christian

neighborhoods and blown up factories.24

The United Nations has taken some steps to address such religious persecution and

the advocacy of religious hatred. For instance, the Human Rights Council passed Resolution

16/18 in April of 2011, to combat “intolerance, negative stereotyping, and stigmatization of,

and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or

belief.”25 The resolution encourages countries to open a dialogue about different religious

group, and urges countries to “criminalize incitement to imminent violence based on religion

or belief.” However, this resolution cannot force countries to do anything – it can only

encourage them to take action. In addition to efforts by the United Nations, Pope Benedict

called talks in 2010 to discuss how Christians can continue to live in the Middle East (lands

where Jesus Christ lived and died). While the seven different Catholic churches in the Middle

East were formerly separated, the Pope Benedict produced a working paper during these

talks urging the different churches to work with each other so as to have more influence in

Arab societies. It also urges them to introduce more Arabic in their services to promote

harmony. However, persecution has continued, and while steps were taken in the right

direction, there is still much to be done.

Moreover, Islam’s situation in Europe has gotten increasingly worse in recent years.

In the past, Muslims did not make up a large portion of the European population. However,

conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Syria have brought up the numbers of Arab

immigrants in European countries. Coupled with the terrorist attacks against Europe and

24 "Syria Explained: How It Became a Religious War." CNN. Accessed August 05, 2016. http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/04/syrian-wars-got-religion-and-that-aint-good/. 25 United Nations General Assembly. April 12, 2011. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/16session/A.HRC.RES.16.18_en.pdf.

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America under the name of Islam, European sentiment towards Muslim refugees is harsh

and unaccepting.

Current Situation

Religion is an issue for refugees fleeing to other countries. After the terrorist attacks

in Paris and San Bernardino, as well as more attacks on international headlines each day, it is

a genuine concern that terrorists may take advantage of the immigration system to make

their way into foreign countries. Yet surprisingly enough, it is often Christians and other

non-Muslims that are left out of the refugee resettlement process. Critics claim that this is

because many governments rely on the UNHCR’s application process for considering

refugees for resettlement. However, Christians and other non-Muslim groups often avoid

the United Nations’ refugee camps, as they are afraid of facing further persecution by the

Muslim majority in the camps. Thus, many of these minority groups never apply for the

resettlement process. For instance, as of December 2015, only 2.4% of the refugees admitted

to the United States were Christian, while 96%were Muslims, though the Christian

demographic in Syria makes up 10% of the population.26

As a result of this issue, some propose that countries should not rely on the United

Nations for refugee referrals and applications. As the UNHCR, we must consider how we

might reform our system for evaluating refugees to ameliorate this problem of unintentional

discrimination in the process. How can we ensure that Christians who avoid our refugee

camps get an opportunity to be resettled? Should there be divisions based on religion within

26 "So Far: Syrian Refugees in U.S. Include 2,098 Muslims, 53 Christians." CNS News. 2015.

Accessed August 05, 2016. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/syrian-christians-are-greatest-peril-least-likely-be-admitted.

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refugee camps, or would this further exacerbate the issue of religious tolerance, potentially

resulting in even more violence?

In a related instance, in September of 2015, the Australian government opted to

resettle 12,000 Syrian refugees. However, it chose to focus “on those most in need – the

women, children, and families of persecuted minorities.”27 In other words, the Australian

government decided to resettle mostly the Christian faction of refugees, and exclude

Muslims from their resettlement process. Yet Australia’s attempt to resettle the persecuted

Christian minority was met with staunch criticism: others have criticized the policy for

screening refugees on religious grounds, claiming that it is discriminatory to reject Muslims

based “on their adherence to Islam.”28 Critics of the policy certainly have reason to be angry

– such a policy may set a precedent so the Australian government only admits Christian

refugees in the future, possibly discriminating against Muslims. However, the Australian

government’s counterargument is that Christians, as shown by the United States, have not

received adequate representation in the refugee resettlement process, and that this policy is

meant to give Christians a chance at resettlement as well. Yet President Obama said in a

speech that admitting Christians and not Muslims would be a shameful choice.

Proponents of Christian resettlement policies argue back that there are no primarily

Christian countries surrounding middle-eastern counties, meaning that Christians cannot

easily find surrounding communities of similar people: they must travel much further to

countries such as the United States to find a safe refuge. These proponents claim that

27 "The Syrian and Iraqi Humanitarian Crisis." Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Accessed August 05, 2016. http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2015/jb_mr_150909a.aspx.

28 "So Far: Syrian Refugees in U.S. Include 2,098 Muslims, 53 Christians." CNS News. 2015. Accessed August 05, 2016. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/syrian-christians-are-greatest-peril-least-likely-be-admitted.

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Muslim refugees, on the other hand, need not travel far to find acceptance within a similar

community. George Carey, former archbishop of Canterbury, stated that Christians could

not safely stay in United Nations refugee camps and thus should be given special priority in

Britain. Furthermore, he claims that because Britain is a Christian nation with an established

Church, Christians would have an easier time assimilating in the community.29 Carey further

claims that “in recent years, there has been too much Muslim mass immigration to

Europe… This has resulted in ghettos of Muslim communities living parallel lives to

mainstream society, following their own customs and even their own laws.”30 Carey

therefore calls for Muslim countries in the region to open their borders to Muslims, and he

calls for more European states to open their borders to Christians.

However, after the backlash following the Australian policy has made it clear that it

is a very risky political move to advocate the immigration of exclusively Christians into a

country. It is unlikely that other politicians will follow suit – and thus it is up to us in the

UNHCR to reform its system for accepting refugee applicants and ensuring that Christians

and other minority groups are given a fair chance and representation. This can be done in a

variety of ways – perhaps seeking out Christian refugees who are staying with their friends,

creating primarily Christian refugee camps, or promoting religious freedom within camps so

refugees do not feel persecuted and are more likely to stay in them. I’d like to hear both

discussion of both short-term and long-term solutions to this complicated problem in our

committee.

29 "Why the Question of Christian vs. Muslim Refugees Has Become so Incredibly Divisive."

Washington Post. Accessed August 06, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/11/19/why-the-question-of-christian-vs-muslim-refugees-has-become-so-incredibly-divisive/. 30 "So Far: Syrian Refugees in U.S. Include 2,098 Muslims, 53 Christians." CNS News. 2015. Accessed August 05, 2016. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/syrian-christians-are-greatest-peril-least-likely-be-admitted.

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Moreover, it is our committee’s responsibility to protect the rights of Muslims who

have emigrated to other countries. According to Amnesty International, Muslims in Europe

are facing discrimination in education, employment, and religious freedom. Employers in

Europe have been allowed to “discriminate on the grounds that religious or cultural symbols

will jar with clients or colleagues or that a clash exists with a company’s corporate image or

its ‘neutrality.’” While there has been legislation in some European countries meant to

prevent employment discrimination, it has not been properly implemented. Moreover,

Muslim children are often not permitted to wear their headscarves or other forms of

religious dress in their schools in countries including Spain, France, Belgium, and

Switzerland.31 In addition, the European Union has recently undergone the worst economic

recession since the Great Depression, and Muslims have often served as the scapegoat for

this issue – they are regarded as a threat. This had led to the formation of xenophobic,

populist political parties that discriminate against Muslims, and because many Muslims are

allowed limited civic and political participation, this aggravates discrimination in the political

sphere.

The graphic below shows favorable/unfavorable views towards Muslim refugees:

31 Sterling, Joe. "Muslims in Europe Dogged by Bias, Amnesty Says." CNN. April 24, 2012.

Accessed September 09, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/24/world/europe/europe-islam-discrimination/.

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The graphic below shows the results of public opinion polls in a few European countries

about Muslim refugees in terms of terrorism:

Clearly, as shown by the graphics above, the public opinion about Muslim refugees

in European countries is not favorable. Yet many European countries argue that Muslims

have been unwilling to integrate into their society, or that Muslims “impose values at odds

with European identity.” Terrorist attacks have also perpetuated the negative stereotyping

and discrimination that Muslims in these countries face, and the media has often portrayed

the terrorist attacks as Islam-based rather than terrorist-based. Organizations such as

Britain’s Faith Matters have collected data apparently showing an increase in hate crime as a

result of the Muslim refugees. Our committee must advocate for the acceptance of Muslim

refugees in the countries they flee to.

Open society foundations have attempted to tackle Islamophobia in Europe. They

have groups that work on campaigns countering stereotypes and hate-crime monitoring.

They also advocate for integration policies and engage in strategic litigation to challenge

discriminatory practices, public policies, and laws. However, the general attitude of many

Europeans towards the Muslim community has remained fundamentally unchanged. It is

clear that any solution to these problems must address the emotional sentiments of

European citizens towards Muslim refugees. Some solutions have been proposed, including:

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Ensuring that political parties cannot be formed on the basis of promoting hatred or

racism

Adopting national strategies to tackle racist and related crime, e.g. how to prevent

hate crime, increase reporting, prosecuting offenders

Fight abuse among police officers and other public officials

Developing exit strategies for people involved in extremist groups and organizations

(note that it can be very dangerous for people to leave extremist groups)

Ensuring that victim support is provided.32

Yet many of these solutions are governmental policy solutions. How can we, the

UNHCR, tackle the attitudes of these citizens? Is it possible to change their attitudes, or can

we only hope to influence these countries’ public policies?33

Blocs

Muslim Refugees

Muslims have been persecuted in multiple ways. Within Middle Eastern countries,

primarily Sunni communities have persecuted Shiite Muslims, and vice versa. Both groups

argue that the other group is fundamentally wrong, and this has led to religious civil wars

throughout history. However, followers of all sects of Islam have been persecuted in non-

Middle-Eastern countries around the world, including Europe, the United States, and

32 "European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights." Racism, Discrimination, Intolerance and

Extremism: Learning from Experiences in Greece and Hungary. Accessed September 09, 2016. http://fra.europa.eu/en/press-release/2013/racism-discrimination-intolerance-and-extremism-learning-experiences-greece-and.

33 "What Is Islamophobia?" Open Society Foundations. Accessed September 09, 2016.

https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/islamophobia-europe.

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Australia. They receive unequal treatment, including lack of job opportunities, sub-par

education, and political and economic limitations. Moreover, they often do not have places

to practice their religion.

Christians Refugees

Christians in other countries across the world, including the United States, Britain,

and Australia, have urged their countries to open their borders to Christian refugees, citing

that Christian refugees do not have adequate representation in the application process run by

the United Nations. For instance, some United States senators in Texas have pushed for the

United States to adopt a policy very similar to the one adopted by Australia, excluding

Muslim refugees and instead allowing 10,000 people of “persecuted minorities” to enter their

communities.34 This sect also has the support of many churches, who claim that they are

ready to assist Christian refugees should their governments open up their borders. More

extreme members of this faction claim that mass Muslim immigration has resulted in Muslim

ghettos which follow their own laws, not abiding by the laws of the country they are staying

in.

European Union

Many countries in the European Union think of Muslims as a terror threat, and that

Muslim refugees put a massive strain on the economy. Populist political parties have been

gaining traction, aimed at closing off borders to Muslim refugees and migrants. These

34 "So Far: Syrian Refugees in U.S. Include 2,098 Muslims, 53 Christians." CNS News. 2015. Accessed August 05, 2016. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/syrian-christians-are-greatest-peril-least-likely-be-admitted.

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countries often use Muslim refugees as a scapegoat for their economic problems, and thus

the majority of the public discriminates against Muslims in their communities.

Keywords:

Islamophobia

Terrorism

Resettlement

al-Qaeda

Hezbollah

Shiite / Sunni

European Union

Questions

1. How can the UNHCR craft policy to protect the minority of refugees without bias

based on religion?

2. How can the UNHCR protect the religious freedom of minorities within its own

refugee camps?

3. What is your country’s view on opening its borders to refugees? Should it accept

refugees of all religions, or certain ones?

4. How can the UNHCR protect the religious freedoms of Muslim refugees after they

have settled in a new country, and how can the UNHCR help them assimilate to

different cultures?

5. How can the UNHCR eliminate discrimination in Muslim countries?