Observation .
E . TOPIC . Integrating Refugees with Differing Norms of Gender & Sexuality ( 2499 )
As 100,000s of people flee to Europe during the European refugee crisis , European nations face a huge challenge in integrating these refugees , many of whom have differing cultural norms of gender and sexuality . Addressing host nation concerns is essential for sustainable integration , yet public tensions about gender issues have increased due to a series of sexual assaults in Norway ( 2013 ) and Germany ( January 2016 ), some of which were perpetrated by asylum-seekers . In response , Norway and other European countries have begun hosting discussion classes to educate refugees and migrants on European social norms in the hopes of preventing various forms of violence and helping refugees to avoid misunderstandings as they navigate their new host cultures .
Discussion .
By the end of 2015 , 65.3 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide due to conflict , persecution , human rights violations , and violence - of whom 40.8 million were internally displaced persons ( IDPs ), 21.3 million refugees , and 3.2 million asylum-seekers ( according to the UN Refugee Agency ( UNHCR )). The majority ( 54 %) of refugees worldwide come from three main countries : Somalia ( 1.1 million ), Afghanistan ( 2.7 million ), and Syria ( 4.9 million ), all three ( Somalia , Afghanistan , and Syria ) affected by years of continuous fighting involving multiple internal / external parties and stabilization forces . By the end of 2015 , more than half of all refugees were residing in Europe or sub-Saharan Africa . The majority ( 84 %) of arrivals in Europe are from the world ’ s 10 top refugee-producing countries , including Syria , Afghanistan , Iraq , Eritrea , Pakistan , Iran , Nigeria , Somalia , Morocco , and Sudan . Other refugees have fled to Europe from regions in Africa where conflict has continued for years in spite of United Nations ( UN ) peacekeeping operations , such as the Central African Republic ( Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR ( MINUSCA )), the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( Mission de l ’ ONU pour la Stabilisation en RD Congo ( MONUSCO )), and South Sudan ( UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan ( UNMISS )).
While refugees and asylum-seekers fleeing such conflicts have distinct needs as they seek refuge , welcoming communities in host nations also have needs and concerns that must be addressed for sustainable refugee resettlement and integration . Studies have shown that the risk of refugees radicalizing or turning to violent extremism lessens if they are integrated into welcoming communities ( see SOLLIMS Lesson # 2481 ). Yet , it is also important to address the concerns of the receiving communities so as not to produce further instability . A 2015 RAND study affirms that “ the risk [ of radicalization ] can be mitigated if the main stakeholders adopt comprehensive policies that extend beyond immediate lifesaving needs and address such issues as the refugees ’ impact on the countries that host them ,” ( p . 1 ).
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