2 . Assure that these courses are not offered based on racist or discriminatory policies . Do not generalize all refugees into one category or assume that just because some may have committed crimes that therefore all have . Courses should convey that all crimes of sexual assault , whether perpetrated by native host nationals or by migrants and refugees , should be brought to justice under the host nation ' s legal system .
3 . It is important for refugee advocates not to ignore or downplay the tensions that do arise from time to time when refugees come from cultures with differing norms and values , especially concerning gender and sexuality . Space must be opened for conversation about real challenges arising in the process , so that host nation communities feel that their concerns and needs are being addressed during the refugee integration process . For example , reports written following the Cologne rapes reveal that some European women felt that their safety was the price for increased immigration . This is a concern that needs to be addressed during the process of refugee integration .
Implications .
If discussion courses are hosted for refugees to identify and speak about their own views of gender and learn about those in their new host community , then there may be increased understanding . If there is increased understanding about European norms concerning gender relations , then gender relations involving refugees may improve and host nation constituents ( especially women ) may feel safer . If host nation concerns are addressed during refugee integration , integration will be more sustainable and less likely to breed instability in the host nation . Educational classes about gender and culture may enable refugees not to misread gender signals so that they may be less likely to break laws of the host nation . Hopefully , this will work towards preventing sexual violence and keeping host communities safe .
Event Description . This lesson was based on information found in the following sources :
• “ Norway Offers Migrants a Lesson in How to Treat Women ,” by : Andrew Higgins , The New York Times , ( 19 December 2015 ).
• “ Refugees to be given lessons in ‘ Western sexual norms ’ in Norway ,” by : Jake Alden-Falconer , Independent , ( 9 January 2016 ).
• “ Belgium to launch ‘ respect for women ’ classes for refugees and migrants ,” by : Jake Alden-Falconer , Independent , ( 8 January 2016 ).
• “ Norway teaches migrants about Western women ,” by : James Longman , BBC News , ( 7 June 2016 ).
• “ For Europe , Integrating Refugees Is the Next Big Challenge ,” by : Judith Sunderland , Human Rights Watch ( Published in World Politics Review ), ( 13 January 2016 ).
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