Fifteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

After 71 years of commitment to the spirit and fundamental principles of the Refugee Convention of 1951, the international system faces new demands from refugees and displaced persons than the global community seems prepared to entertain. Clearly, the convention spells out and promotes countries’ obligations to protect fugitives from persecution who had arrived in their territories and not return them to danger. But the exigencies of political and economic concerns are weighty excuses for potential host countries not to sustain fidelity to the key international treaty, with resultant cases of expulsions of refugees at land and sea borders. This paper paints a graphic picture of such pushbacks, highlighting themes of coveting colour politics and discrimination vis-a-vis the ongoing Russia-Ukrainian war and treatment of its displaced persons. The paper relies largely on a qualitative methodology that combines interviews with critical analysis of existing literature on the subject matter. It mirrors the field experience albeit ugly narratives of Africans fleeing danger of a war-zone and denials of protection in contravention of the refugee principles. On the aggregate, the dire situation raises posers that should not be ignored by the global community, especially as the crisis wore on and the European region is at the nick of a major refugee crisis. It, therefore, recommends a renewed regional effort to rejig concerted commitment to the international treaty in the interest of collective peace and continued relevance of the convention beyond theoretical postulations.