Asylum seeker
Asylum Seeker
An Asylum Seeker (pronunciation: /əˈsaɪləm ˈsiːkər/) is an individual who has sought international protection and whose claim for refugee status has not yet been determined.
Etymology
The term "Asylum Seeker" is derived from the Latin word 'asylum', meaning 'sanctuary', and the English word 'seeker', meaning 'one who seeks'.
Definition
An Asylum Seeker is a person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another. In most cases, asylum seekers are fleeing persecution for reasons which include race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.
Related Terms
- Refugee: A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
- Internally Displaced Person (IDP): A person who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders.
- Stateless Person: A person who is not considered as a national by any state under the operation of its law.
- Immigrant: A person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.
Legal Framework
The legal framework for asylum seekers is primarily based on the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. These international treaties provide the definition of a refugee and outline the rights of the displaced, as well as the legal obligations of states to protect them.
Process
The process of seeking asylum involves numerous stages, including arrival in the host country, claim submission, interview, decision, and appeal (if necessary). The process varies by country and can take from several months to several years.
Challenges
Asylum seekers face numerous challenges, including language barriers, cultural differences, and the trauma of fleeing their home country. They may also face difficulties in accessing healthcare, education, and employment in their host country.
This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.