I only want to be human : Disembarkation platforms for refugees - not concentration camps

Sammanfattning: In this study I have studied the European Unions suggestion about disembarkation of refugees from a human rights perspective - especially the perspective of human value and human dignity. Human dignity is central. It is expressed in the preamble to the UN Human Rights, as well as in its first paragraph; “Everyone has the right to dignity, and it shall not be violated.” I have studied refugees that have previously spent time in large refugee camps outside Europe, in Jordan and in Libya. In my study I use Libya as an example on what refugees can face in camps in third-world countries. The subject caught my attention since the Norwegian ship MS Tampa picked up refugees on international water outside Australia. The Norwegian captain tried to leave them on Australian land but was refused to do so. Australia sent a military boat to pick them up and left them at an island outside Australia. Moreover European politicians have discussed the idea of off-shore, placements of refugees at disembarkation camps as a way of solving the problem of huge number of refugees that are looking for asylum in Europe as well as the many deaths at the Mediterranean Sea. There has also been a discussion on quota refugees chosen by the UNHCR. This made me wonder how the situation would be for the remaining refugees that will stay in these large camps, maybe for years, as well as how their human rights are respected in camps outside Europe where Europe have no control? How does this correspond to the principle of human value? In my qualitative study I started by making a literature study. Thereafter continued with an interview study where I interviewed refugees that have stayed at camps outside Europe. The purpose of the interview and the study was to take part of their narratives and to make their voices heard. I found that the narrative of refugees is not heard, this makes them feel less valued as human, or not even a human. Their dignity is violated, and their human rights are not respected. Their interests have been forced to give way to the interest of the state.