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The United Nations High Commission for Refugees is embarking on a sensitising campaign to get people to understand the reality of migration and refugees in Malta. Speaking to MaltaToday, spokesperson Laura Boldrini said time had to come to counter attack negative stereotypes of refugees.
“There’s a big confusion about who the refugee is. Not just in Malta, but everywhere. The media plays an important role in passing on the right message, which is why we are concerned with the fear that can create xenophobic attitudes and manipulate realities,” Boldrini said.
The need to urge people to look at refugees as humans is part of the campaign launched by the UNHCR which includes adverts showing Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, singer Marlene Dietrich, footballer George Weah, and Henry Kissinger as children. All were refugees.
Boldrini said she was concerned about the situation across Europe were fear of migration was being used as a political weapon in electoral campaigns, and which was exploited by irresponsible media.
“It’s time to counter attack these type of messages. Proper reporting is important, without offering a stereotypical image of refugees. People must understand what refugees are, and that they are not threat. The real threats are intolerance and xenophobia: how can you have a democracy which is intolerant?”
Boldrini said Malta’s size was acknowledged by the UNHCR and that the EU also had to look into this reality. “It is objectively true. It is a small island. But it is also a rich country. Together with the idea of burden-sharing, we should also make an effort to integrate refugees. If 50 per cent of those applying for asylum are receiving protection, they are not bogus. We have to consider this as a reality and the obligations involved in this. Despite acknowledging the reality of the size, we cannot suspend our human rights obligations.”
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