Narratives of Discrimination & Racial Harassment When Fleeing the War in Ukraine

• In Event: (Un)Deserving Migrants: Race and International Migration

Abstract

Using the narratives of racial harassment faced by African students fleeing the Ukraine War, this article analyses how racist asylum seeker admission policies can lead to discrimination through prioritization of life and human rights of one racial group, belonging to a specific part of the world over another. In doing so, this qualitative study sheds light on how such racist obstacles can violate human right clauses and international anti-racism and anti-discrimination convention. Moreover, this case shows the undermining of the idea of equal human rights of all human beings on the basis of race and belonging, which consequently leads to dehumanization of racialized groups and undervaluing their right to life and right to have human rights. This research is important as it showcases the implications of racist and exclusionary border policies that prioritize people of one race, holding citizenship of one particular state, on R2P, and the human rights and refugee protection regime.

Author

• Nahian Salsabeel, University of Regina