Oooh Articles 13 & 14 are touchy touchy recently! Especially in these parts around here! Article 13 sets up the fact that everyone should be free to leave and return to any country (including their own) and Article 14 is about the right to seek asylum. Of course, it then went on to become an entire UN Convention and Agency all on its own (UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – also the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees – links below)
In case you didn’t know, here is Article 13 & 14:
Article 13:
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 14:
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Of course, there are so many myths and things surrounding the whole asylum seekers thing. I’ve been told multiple times on social media (especially by Australians) that I don’t understand how *they* are all criminals and that it’d be different if they were living near me, how they jump the “queue” etc etc etc. Well, I did live on a street right down the road from many asylum seekers and refugees, and do not think differently to what I do now.
In fact, if you do have lots of thoughts on refugees and asylum seekers (like the MYTHS above I’ve just mentioned) and haven’t actually read much on the subject, I urge you to please read this factsheet. It’s almost like an infographic, it’s easy to read! I promise. (click on the image, it’ll open a PDF up in a new page) and that is all I need to say, cos really, someone else has made a pretty infographic… 🙂
Vivian Chandra 