Element of Australias Migration Program or Visa System: Humanitarian Program - Essay Example

Element of Australia’s Migration Program or Visa System: Humanitarian program Name Institution Course Tutor Date Introduction The Australia’s humanitarian program was introduced in the country since the conduct of the World War II to offer maximum support to the refugees and other people requiring humanitarian support. Being one of the elements of the Australian migration program, the humanitarian program aims at offering client service through providing them with permanent visas. This aids in the provision of permanent resettlement to those in need and the distressed foreigners after arriving in Australia1. In the conduct of this program, the Australian government seeks to address the numerous migration issues based on the migration laws. The program is associated with incurring some costs and matter surrounding human rights. This essay seeks to explore the meaning of humanitarian program as it is conducted in Australia. Besides, the essay looks at how the Australian government is committed to implementing the particular program. Also, the essay covers the plans of the Australian government in ensuring the improvement of the program activities. There is also the identification of the specific laws that are adhered to in the conduct of the humanitarian program in Australia. The essay also looks at the support and aids offered by agencies and organizations dealing with migrants. The cost associated with the implementation of this program and the diverse sources of funds are identified. The other issues of discussion concerning humanitarian program are the resettlement of women migrants based on their vulnerability and the aspect of human rights. Although the resettlement of refugees in Australia is effective, it has been that way because of the implementation of the refugee-humanitarian program, which focuses on meeting the needs of refugees and other needy people. Humanitarian program background It is a major challenge across the world of trying to offer protection to the refugee and refugee-like situations because many people are forced to leave their home countries by human right abuses and armed conflicts. According to the estimated statistics in 2014 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are around 59.5 million displaced people who through force seek for assistance globally. Nonetheless, 38.2 million were at first displaced individuals, 1.8 million asylum seekers, and 19.5 million refugees. Australia is one of the members of the international community2. The nation shares the duty of offering protection to these refugees and those others in refugee-like situations by offering a solution to their problems. The Australia's dedication to protecting and supporting refugees is well demonstrated through the Humanitarian program. Australia is one of the major countries that is engaged in the yearly permanent resettlement program, therefore being identified as the top country in resettlement with others being Canada and the United States3. Australia’s Refugee-Humanitarian Program This program entails the provision of permanent settlement and other humanitarian support to the people in need and the refugees in Australia. The Australian government operates the specific program through the provision of visas to the foreigners fleeing away from their home countries because of different problems. The program became operational since the period of World War II, when the Australian government was determined to support the war victims from other nations4. According to the United Nations Convention, Australia has an international duty of offering protection to asylum seekers, and this depends on the refugees' status. There are different roles played by the Australian government under the humanitarian program, and they include the onshore protection and offshore resettlement. Nonetheless, this program is very essential in enhancing a wider protection towards the refugees. Besides, the program was designed in a way that it ensures that Australia is in a position to act efficiently towards the international humanitarian situations5. In addition, it is aimed at ensuring that there is the availability of aid services to the entrants in achieving their unique needs. Through the department of immigration and citizenship, the Australian government has been accepting additional refugees every year. The visas are issued to those who are overseas to enable them Migrate To Australia in the cases of some unavoidable circumstances6. Therefore, the Australia's refugee and humanitarian program apply not only to the present Australian refugees, but also to the people seeking for humanitarian support and yet they are living overseas. Government's commitment to the implementation of the program The Australia's refugee and the humanitarian program is applied in Australia through the government’s commitment. This is where the Australian government and parliament of the nation pass laws associated with the aspect of welcoming, accommodating and supporting the refugees entering the country. Australia is identified as a participant towards the United Nations Convention based on the eminence of the refugees. In addition, the Australian Government looks for the opinions of the citizens concerning the program in order to consider them in the conduct of program planning and its improvement, therefore the increased acquisition of public support. The government also makes its decisions through a consultation to the state and territory governments, as well as the Commonwealth agencies7. It also consults the humanitarian organizations and peak refugee bodies. The government does not only consider the voices of the Australian community, but also implements the advice offered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) about the priorities and needs of the worldwide resettlement. In making any decision related to the program, the Australian Government pays much attention to the nation’s ability to enable the coming and staying of the humanitarian clients. Processes and laws implemented in the program In the operation of the humanitarian program, there are rules and procedures that have to be followed for its success. Initially, there is the Migration Act 1958, which contains all the activities and regulations followed in the provision of humanitarian support8. This act is implemented through the consideration of the bill passed in parliament. For instance, in 2014, the Australian Parliament passed the migration and maritime powers legislation amendment, which was recognized as Bill 2014. The bill ensured a minimum of 13,750 places in 2015-16 and 2016-17, 16,250 places in 2017-18 and 18,750 places in 2018-19. Under this act, there is the introduction of temporary protection visas (TPVs) and haven enterprise visas (SHEVs). The particular visas were part of the border defense strategy to contest against the individuals trafficking and discourage persons from going for risky trips to Australia. In addition, such visas are granted to the unauthorized air and illegal maritime entrants especially the one identified to be involved in the Australia’s protection duties. The laws followed in the conduct of this program include; the law governing response to the Iraq and Syrian humanitarian crisis. Under this package, those people displaced by the conflicts in Iraq and Syria was offered around 12,000 humanitarian opportunities in 2015. There was also the provision of education, water, healthcare, protection, food, and emergencies supplies to those individuals affected by the particular conflict. There is also the law governing how humanitarian places are prioritized based on the vulnerable cases such as those of families, children, and women with the minimal hope of ever going back in peace and safely to their original homes. There is also the prioritization of people living in Turkey, Jordan, and those from Lebanon. The resettlement of the refugees in Australia is done through the process based on the onshore protection and offshore resettlement, whereby applicants are evaluated, issued with visas, and then assisted to resettle in Australia9. The applicants are qualified to be resettled depending on the nature and the present condition of the country of origin. Aims, Operations, and functions linked to the humanitarian program The humanitarian program aims at offering permanent resettlement to the individuals who are in problems or those in the desperate circumstances from overseas10. This includes the people living in the refugee camps and others in the protracted humanitarian conditions. Another aim is the reunion of the individuals in the refugee-like situations internationally and the refugees with their relatives in Australia11. There is also the application of the resettlement in a strategic manner to assist in the stabilizing of refugee populations, minimize the outlook of unbalanced movements from the source nations of the initial asylum and backing of the wider universal defense. The program as well aims at achieving the Australia’s protection duties. The humanitarian program operates through the provision of support to refugees and the displaced individuals in the form of food, security, education, housing, health care, water, and other aids through the Australian Government. Other functions of the humanitarian program are to provide resettlement opportunities in the refugee camps for the re-unity of the refugees and other individuals in the similar circumstances from diverse backgrounds. The functions and operations of the humanitarian program are efficiently conducted through onshore protection and offshore resettlement components. The onshore protection/ asylum component meets the Australia’s worldwide responsibility of providing protection to the individuals who are previously stable in Australia and those acknowledged as being refugees regarding the United Nations Convention concerning to the position of refugees12. On the other hand, the program provides offshore resettlement component, which demonstrates the Australia’s devotion towards enhancing refugee security through extending its duties and providing passage of societies from overseas. Onshore component The onshore protection has the objective of offering options to the individuals who would like to apply legally for asylum or protection the moment they get to enter in Australia. These are the people found to be refugees through the Migration Act 1958 after meeting its complementary protection criteria, or else those involved in the Australia’s protection responsibilities under a particular global treaty. This means that this humanitarian program is not considerate of the persons traveling or entering in Australia illegally, which entails the illegal maritime arrivals (IMA), the individuals migrating to the regional handing out centers and the unlicensed air arrivals13. The program does not include the short-time protection visas that are offered to people who tend to enter in Australia unlawfully. The government of Australia has set a certain number of visas that can be offered through this program. For instance, in 2015-16, the program only had places for around 13,750 people, whereby 11,000 chances were offered to individuals offshore inclusive of the women at risk and rest were places for persons onshore or those entering in Australia lawfully14. The people in this level are evaluated based on their cases, which identifies the situation of the country of nationality. The assessment practice has to be in considerate of the Australia’s duty through the human rights treaties, such as convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (CAT) and the International covenant on civil and political rights (ICCPR)15. The applicants are needed to prove that they are healthy and meeting security and character criteria before being granted the permanent protection visas. Offshore component The offshore component is divided into two; refugee section and the special humanitarian program (SHP) division. Under the refugee part, there is the provision of assistance to people who are highly subjected to trial in the home countries and whose resettlement is the paramount resilient way out in Australia. Such people have to be outside their home country and in need of being resettled. In its function, Australia collaborates with the UNHCR the body referring the majority of the qualified applicants to be resettled in Australia as refugees under this division16. There are numerous visas issued to the applicants under this category and they comprise of refugee visa or subclass 200, and it is for the individuals who have avoided persecution in their home republic and dwelling in other places other than in their motherland. There is also the in-country special humanitarian visa or the subclass 201, which is issued to a minimal number of people still dwelling in their home republic and exposed to harassment. Then, the emergency rescue visa or subclass 203, is granted to few people living away from their home nation and in urgent requirement for protection from the fact that there is an impending danger to their security and life. The beneficiaries have to be approved by the UNHCR. Lastly, there are visas issued to women at risk or subclass 204 and they cover majorly the women and their children who are subject to discrimination in their country of origin or registered by UNHCR as individuals ‘of concern17.' Such people have to be residing external from their home state and not receiving nay protection from a male relative. Besides, they are supposed to be under threat of harassment and victimization or critical manipulation based on their gender18. The visa under the SHP division or the subclass 202 is granted to people who are victims of extensive discrimination resulting to an unrefined ruin of their human rights and dwelling in a foreign nation. When applying for the SHP visa, one is required to have a proposal from a qualified Australian citizen of enduring dweller, a firm operating in Australia, or a suitable New Zealand citizen19. Once the application goes through, the proposer is needed to pay for the applicant’s travel to Australia and help with the basic orientation and accommodation in Australia. Once the nation of origin is stable, or there is an end to the problem leading to the migration of the refugees, Australia provides support to the refugees to go back to their nation of origin. Functions of agencies and organizations To have success in carrying out the Australia's humanitarian program, there are various organizations and agencies that are concerned with the migration matters whereby they grant their financial and material support to the nations that have a massive sum of refugees, for instance in Australia. Such bodies include; the UNHCR20. This is an international organisation that is assigned by the United Nations to lead and manage global activities for the international safety and safeguard of refugees and to resolves the refugee-like circumstances. The contribution of the UNHCR is through the promotion of some long-lasting solutions towards the refugees, such as the resettlement which is conducted only if the local integration and voluntary return is not practicable. There is also the local integration in the nations of initial resettlement and asylum and voluntary return to the nation of origin in circumstances of dignity and safety21. Other bodies are the Core. Contact groups, which were formed as part of the effort towards the attainment of successful resettlement and coordination of refugees in the protracted circumstances22. Therefore, they operate towards the encouragement of the global cooperation in dealing with the humanitarian crises. The specific groups are made up of representatives from the resettlement states and UNHCR with every group aiming at a single lengthened state of affairs23. The members of such groups work in collaboration to make certain improved sustainability and probability of the resettlement struggle, which on the other hand offer enabled safety appliance and maintenance strategies for the rest of the inhabitants of refugees in the host nations. The groups include; contact group for Colombian refugees, that of the Congolese refugees, for the Syrian refugees, for the Afghan refugees in Pakistan, for Afghan refugees in Iran and the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal24. Difficulties associated with the implementation of humanitarian program There are various challenges and difficulties related to the process of implementing the humanitarian program. For instance, the fact that the number of people leaving their home countries and going to other nations to seek asylum is elevating year after the other is a global challenge to the resettlement nations such as Australia25. Other challenges are associated with the increased entry of refugees illegally, therefore making it difficult for the Australian Government to offer maximum humanitarian support to the qualified applicants. Finances and the sources The humanitarian program is implemented through meeting the associated costs. Therefore, the Australian Government and the assisting organizations require finances to achieve their resettlement operations. For example, in 2015 around $44 million was used in the resettlement of the humanitarian entrants who were subject of the Iraq and Syria conflict26. The program is also supported by the UN under the UNHCR, which contributes towards the funding of the expenses met by the Australian Government under this program. Women and children migrants and human rights In the resettlement of the refugee and people in the refugee-like situations, the personnel encounter a many women migrants who are at risk. In the effort to resettle them, the program ensures granting them visas in a special subclass based on the refugee category27. The ‘women at risk visa’ was well-known in 1989 from the realization of the significance offered by the UNHCR for the provision of protection to the refugee women who are the most prospective population to be in defenseless status quo of life as likened with men. Through the consideration of human rights as an essential aspect in the handling of the applicants of the humanitarian program, women at risk are prioritized. There is also the priority towards their vulnerable dependents at risk, whereby, for example, in 2014-15, 1009 visas were granted to women at risk and in 2015-16 around 1200 places were set aside for them28. In relation to how Australia is committed to respecting human rights, it is the top nation in implementing the program where women at risk and their dependents are prioritized. The achievements through the program The humanitarian program has so far managed to resettle numerous people in diverse refugee situations. Australia has managed to offer maximum support to the needy people through a permanent solution to the numerous refugees who were from intractable refugee settings29. Moreover, through this program, it has been possible for the Australian Government to grant protection to the individual refugees especially the ones in the vulnerable and compelling circumstances. The program has also enhanced an efficient response towards the humanitarian crises occurring because of great outflows and rising pressures towards the host nations in the occurrence of the present crisis in Iraq and Syria. Through the provision of visas to the applicants of the humanitarian support, the program works towards solving problems suffered by the international refugee populations. It has also been possible for the UNHCR to engage in positive conversation with the international community and the host nations. Consequently, there is an enhancement of an ongoing protection and identification of assistance for access to the livelihood chances for the remaining refugee groups and individuals30. It is visualized that broadening and retaining protection chances in nations of the initial asylum might on the other hand influence to effort towards the reduction of pressure, which results in irregular movement and continuing migration of people. Additionally, it has been possible for the resettlement countries such as Australia and UNHCR to realize the number of protracted refugee circumstances that would gain from corresponding and aimed resettlement within a specific period31. The benefit of the program is beyond the resettled refugees and their relatives, but also to their home countries. Potential improvements/ future plans The potential improvements towards the humanitarian program are; the changes of how refugees have access to visas allowing them to migrate from their home nations. There also needs to be some improvements on how permanent migration is enabled through making movement across the borders easier for the needy people. It is also important to improve the situation of live lived by the asylum seekers. To control the issue of some refugees arriving in Australia unlawfully, the Australian government should work towards the making the migration of refugees more enabled. There should as well be the improvement of the relationship between Australia and the neighboring nations to ensure that asylum seekers are provided the required support that would as well help in resettling them in the camps32. It needs there to be some changes to help in the conduct of irregular migration of refugees at a reduced pressure. Other improvements necessary for the success of this program are; changing the nature of the offshore component and diversify towards the funding of resettlement of individuals entering in Australia through the Special Humanitarian Visa. Moreover, collaboration with NGOs and other intergovernmental bodies would be efficient in the advancement of the response towards the displaced. Humanitarian family reunion also needs to be approached differently through the allocation of increased visas under the family stream and subsidizing for the costs related to the acquisition of family visas. It is also important for the Australian Government to collaborate with representatives of the education sector, refugee communities, business, UNHCR, and civil societies in identifying alternative means of refugees entering in Australia. In the issues of urgency entry, for instance, the people with mental problems, the program needs to ensure efficient acquisition of mental health care before their entry. It would also require granting of the work rights to the refugees to reduce the cost related to the implementation of the humanitarian program. The program should also be more transparent in allowing asylum seekers in looking for legal advice. Conclusion The Australia’s refugee- humanitarian program is one of the elements of Australia’s Migration Program or Visa System. This is a flexible program, which ensures additional of chances to the humanitarian applicants. This program is important because it helps Australia under the mandate of UNHCR to offer protection to refugees internationally. Besides, the resettlement of refugees in Australia is conducted through a legal process which has to be followed to ensure lawful entrance of the refugees in the nation. To offer humanitarian support without discrimination, the program is conducted under two functions, that is, the onshore protection and offshore resettlement. The applicants are assessed in order to be identified if they qualify in any of the components, therefore being granted the possible protection. This includes support to the individuals who are in danger of persecuted from their home countries and those who look for refuge in the other nations. Under the Migration Act 1958, the Australian government offers different places for the refugees from different countries. The particular program has been successful in resettling many asylum seekers, therefore protecting them from harassment and problems subjected to them in their home nations. The UNHCR collaborates with the Australian Government in ensuring that the resettled refugees meet the qualifications. For future improvements, the program will need to be modified to enable Australia to work with other nations in offering wider support to the humanitarian applicants. The government will also need to collaborate with international NGOs and agencies in ensuring meeting the needs of the refugees. Therefore, the Australia's refugee and the humanitarian program is worth support based on its achievements. References Broadbent, Robyn, Marcelle Cacciattolo, and Cathryn Carpenter. "A tale of two communities: refugee relocation in Australia." Australian Journal of Social Issues 42, no. 4 (2007): 581. Clifford, Vanessa, Anthea Rhodes, and Georgia Paxton. "Learning difficulties or learning English difficulties? Additional language acquisition: An update for pediatricians." Journal of pediatrics and child health 50, no. 3 (2014): 175-181. Crock, Mary, and L. A. Berg. Immigration, refugees and forced migration: law, policy, and practice in Australia. Federation Press, 2011. Crock, Mary, and L. A. 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