A Ukrainian family fleeing the Russian invasion. New Zealand’s response to that crisis shows it is capable of doing much more for refugees. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images How the politics of love could revolutionise New Zealand’s refugee policy We like to think we help those in need, but the truth is we could and should be doing much more for the world’s displaced people

When 1 in 78 people globally have been forced to flee their homes, and as climate change threatens to displace more than 1 billion more of us by 2050, we need to ask ourselves: is our current refugee policy adequate?

As New Zealanders, we like to think we always help other people when they’re in need – but when it comes to refugee policy, the facts don’t back that up.

New Zealand ranks 95th in the world per capita in accepting refugees – a statistic that, itself, is based on an increased quota we have never actually reached, and which the government currently has no plans to retroactively fill.

We think refugee policy should be radically reconceived, in line with the politics of love. This vision of politics affirms the importance of each of us, and it emphasises loving values such as compassion, humility, and respect. It urges us to work together to realise a better world.

Refugees have first-hand understanding of the challenges of forced migration, as well as the emotional, social, cultural, and educational needs that come with it. Because of this, they are uniquely placed to imagine ways to help those experiencing upheaval.

Looking to refugees for guidance is one of the ways we can infuse refugee policy with understanding and respect. In Aotearoa, we might do this by elevating more refugees to elected office, and by actively engaging migrant communities in political decision-making – through wānanga (conferences), focus groups, and advocate-led policy-drafting events.

Second, loving refugee policy would work to ensure aid is always provided in ways that are timely, comprehensive, and appropriate to the situation at hand. As well as anticipating possible crises, we must be prepared to respond as they emerge.

In some instances, the best way to assist will involve helping refugees to resettle within their countries of origin. Most people prefer not to have to leave their homes, and by assisting refugees to rebuild rather than relocate, we can support them to retain their relationships with people and places.

We should explore different approaches. For example, alongside their government intake, Canada allows private citizens to sponsor refugees – and this has already helped more than 250,000 people. Such an approach could be adapted to enable communities in Aotearoa to act, even if the government fails to do so.

An example of innovative policy can be seen in New Zealand’s response to the war in Ukraine. We issued 4,000 emergency visas for Ukrainians with whānau here. This will mean that hundreds of families are reunited and safe. Although this particular policy raises questions about who we choose to help and why, it demonstrates that we have the capacity to strengthen our formal refugee policy, and assist more people than we typically do.

However, such cooperation must not only involve collaboration between governments and intergovernmental bodies. Often, grassroots peace groups and refugee support networks are better placed to work with similar organisations worldwide to respond to crises. Governments should trust them, and provide support when requested.

We should also plan for the mass migration that climate change will catalyse. The global community must adequately prepare for this, to ensure that all people who find themselves in strife receive the assistance they need.

In this era of increasing uncertainty and compounding crises, conflict threatens to unravel our relationships and divide us from each other. Strong refugee policy can be understood as loving intervention against the danger those crises pose to global solidarity. As well as helping people in desperate need, it can nurture the values we require to survive and thrive in a drastically changing world – such as care, sharing, and trust.

In her book, Know Your Place, Golriz Ghahraman, the first refugee elected to parliament in New Zealand, writes: “The history of the world can be told through conflict, but it can also be told through the benefits of shared knowledge and goods that are seeded by migration.” We might envisage our future this way, too.

Source: The Guardian

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