Article 33.1 states:
No Contracting State shall expel or return ('refouler') a refugee in any manner to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion."
This is the guiding principle that guides asylum laws around the world. United nations human rights commission is seriously concerned about the plight of refugees and those under fear of persecution and thus wants contracting states to extend assistance. However countries are concerned about their own security problems and thus refuse to acknowledge all refugee applications. The number of applications has thus gone down seriously. One key article states: "...2005 saw the lowest number of asylum-seekers since 1987. During the first months of 2006, applications dropped a further 14 per cent, compared to the same period last year. While this continued decline can be partially attributed to improved conditions in some of the countries of origin, it may also be due to the introduction of more restrictive asylum policies, notably in Europe."
It is important thus to create a set of clear procedures and screening process that would allow genuine asylum seekers to get refuge. For this reason, a distinction is sought between migrant and refugee. In quite poignant manner, the Convention states that a migrant is someone who may lose better quality of life if he is turned down, a refugee is someone who might lose his life altogether. The Convention and other UNHR handbooks offer clear guidelines on the issue of distinction between migrants and refugees. One...
He may be moved by the desire for change or adventure, or by family or other reasons of a personal nature. If he is motivated exclusively by economic considerations, he is an economic migrant and not a refugee. The distinction between an economic migrant and a refugee is, however, sometimes blurred in the same way as the distinction between economic and political measures in an applicant's country of origin is not always clear."
Now that it is clear why we need to make a distinction and what are the key differences between refugee and migrant movements, it is time to look at some interesting trends. The EU has expanded from 15 to 25 members and this means ten news states have entered the Union. The asylum seekers from these countries definitely have an edge over refugees from other countries if they are seeking protection in any of the bigger and more powerful EU countries. This is however discriminatory attitude because a refugee anywhere is in seriously bad condition and thus need immediate protection and support. There must not exist any distinction on the basis on nationality.
References
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/o_c_ref.htm
http://www.migrationwatchuk.org/pdfs/Legal/8_11_distinction_asylumseeker_and_refugee.pdf.
Jose Riera, Migrants and Refugees, Why Draw a Distinction?
http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2006/issue4/0406p31.htm
