UNESCO Chair Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts (RILA)

UNESCO’s own mission says that ‘if wars are made in the minds of people, then it is in the minds of people that the defences of peace must be constructed.’  

The UNESCO Chair for Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts team deplores the Russian government’s decision to wage war on Ukraine under the guise of a ‘special military operation’ and condemns the use of deadly force on Ukrainian civilians.  

We call on all national governments to recognise Russia’s actions as a breach of Ukrainian Sovereignty and to unite in efforts to work for peace, through the designated international instruments of the United Nations and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine and all fleeing the conflict.  

We welcome the United Nations vote condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the call for Russia’s full withdrawal. We support the UNESCO National Commission’s work to ratify a statement of condemnation of the invasion and the importance of keeping doors open for the work of peace, education and cultural rights to be sustained.  

We are also heartened to see the European Union’s (EU) decision to remove visa restrictions on Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict and the many initiatives being developed to support integration. We call on others - including the UK government - to act in accordance with the spirit and letter of the Refugee Convention and to remove visa restrictions for those fleeing conflict zones. The UK Government’s securitising rhetoric is concerning and we note the UK Home Secretary’s failure to use the term ‘refugee’ while outlining the UK’s new schemes to support Ukrainian refugees, alone. For the sake of clarity and legal protection, it is imperative that the terms recognised by the convention are used in the public sphere. 

The war in Ukraine, as well as the current crises and ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Yemen, Palestine, Tigray, Myanmar, amongst others, demonstrate the pressing need for national governments to have clear, attainable routes for those seeking asylum and humanitarian protection to access safety swiftly. Delays in setting up resettlement and integration routes in reaction to crises will result in the loss of human lives and increase the vulnerability of those already in perilous situations. Those fleeing war and persecution need the opportunity to claim asylum outside their country of origin and without fear of further persecution from the country in which they are claiming asylum. We are therefore pleased to note that the UK’s House of Lords has already voted against various clauses in the Nationality and Borders Bill and proposed serious amendments.  

Despite the almost-global condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the overwhelming support for those fleeing Ukraine (including non-Ukrainian nationals), we are saddened to note the Eurocentricity of this crisis and the lack of similar reaction to other recent and ongoing world events. It is vital that the situation facing protesters against the war, and their potential need for asylum in Russia and Belarus is also recognised.  We recognise that regional crises require regional solutions, first, but the reports reaching us of discrimination according to race, ethnicity and nationality on the borders are deeply concerning. We note the lack of similar outcry concerning the Yemeni civil war, the Tigray crisis which bears the hallmarks of a modern genocide and crimes against humanity, and the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, for example, along with other parts of the world where illegal occupations continue.  

We condemn the Russian use of force against people in Ukraine and reports of civilian targets. The crisis should not be more emotional because it is “people with blue eyes and blonde hair being killed”.  It is important to remember that, while the world watches the events unfold in Ukraine, the world is also watching Europe’s media coverage and response to the crisis.  

Following the words of our John Smith Centre Emerging Leadership Fellow: "we are very happy to see the West opened their borders, but on the other hand so very saddened to see the border gates seemingly only valuing some people based on their nationality instead of humanitarian need”.  

Let us seek peace and pursue it for all; let us be generous and clear about our work of hospitality and protection. Let us use the instruments of peace that have served us over many decades, and let us work to expand drawing on the knowledges which have too often been excluded. 

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First published: 7 March 2022