THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
Fabiana Sánchez Bernardini - WorldMUN UCAB
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
“Commerce guarantees peace, freedom guarantees commerce and equality before the law guarantees freedom”
Javier Milei, President of The Argentine Republic
When a person has walked thousands of miles to flee from a place where they no longer had dignity or
freedom, the last thing they lose is hope, the hope to get the freedom they once had. Global refugee crises
have presented significant economic challenges for both host countries and refugees themselves. There are over
120 million forcibly displaced persons in the world 8, which means that countries have an overflow of people on
their doors, and not the correct frameworks to protect them.
Argentina is characterized by having open doors for refugees, with the response to many crises being guided by
humanitarian principles and commitment to human rights 2. Creating the National Commission for Refugees
(CONARE)9, which helps refugees to not only get documentation, but also international protection. 4.1
thousand refugees 1 are currently residing in Argentina, all looking for the same thing: the freedom that was
stolen from them. In 2024, Argentina reaffirmed to the UNHCR that the protection of refugees is a matter of
priority and a State policy within the country 2, being one of the leading members of the Common Market of
South America, providing good practices 4, thus showing what proper integration of refugees can do for a
country. Bring benefit not only for the country, but also for the refugees that find jobs, as their skills are being
used. As a country that has the capabilities and the means to implement adequate frameworks for refugees,
since 2012 there has been a mechanism within the framework of the Federal Public Defenders’ Office of
Argentina (MPD) to ensure free public legal advice and representation for not only refugees, but also
asylum-seekers and stateless persons 3.
According to ILO, 63% of forced labor exploitation occurs in private companies with an estimated 236 billion
USD 5 made from the exploitation of workers, including refugees. Showing not only that refugees are actively
being exploited in their place of work, but those who have high skills are forced to work jobs that exploit them,
leading to brain abuse. When it comes to receiving adequate work for the skills that one possesses, if the worker
is of an ethnic minority, as is the case for refugees, the applicants receive 57% fewer callbacks 6. This means
that the skills of these refugees that are not being called back, will be left unused, fostering brain abuse.
One thing that has to be understood is that without the correct documentation, refugees will not reach their well
deserved and fought-for freedom. Undocumented refugees are at a higher risk of being refused asylum,
exploited, experience brain drain and brain abuse, usually unable to exercise their rights and seek social
protection 7. Functional registration is essential for providing humanitarian assistance, protecting refugees’
rights, and helping governments manage rapid migration 7. With the number of refugees that need internal
protection reaching over 43.4 million people 8, the need for adequate information storage, processes and
frameworks need to be concreted.
Freedom is something that cannot be denied, just like a dignified life. By working with independent
organizations and governments, freedom can be guaranteed for refugees. The balance lies thinly between the
many hands that go through difficult situations. Implementing the use of independent organizations and having
limited government involvement will guarantee that having freedom is a fact, and not just a hope.
REFERENCES
1. Statista. (2024, September 27). Total refugee population in Argentina 2001-2023.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1391017/total-refugee-population-argentina/#:~:text=Total%20refugee%20population%20
in%20Argentina%202001%2D2023&text=The%20number%20of%20refugees%20residing,claim%20was%20filed%20and
%20granted.
2. Argentina reaffirmed to the UNHCR that the protection of refugees is a matter of priority and a state policy for Argentina.
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto. (2024, March 6).
https://www.cancilleria.gob.ar/en/announcements/news/argentina-reaffirmed-unhcr-protection-refugees-matter-priority-and-s
tate-policy
3. Argentina: Advice and legal representation for asylum-seekers, refugees, and stateless persons. ACSG. (2021, November
16).
https://acsg-portal.org/tools/argentina-advice-and-legal-representation-for-asylum-seekers-refugees-and-stateless-persons/#:~
:text=In%20Argentina%2C%20since%202012%2C%20there,to%20ensure%20free%20public%20legal
4. Research portal. (n.d.).
https://researchrepository.ilo.org/esploro/outputs/report/How-immigrants-contribute-to-Argentinas-economy/9952192921026
76/filesAndLinks?index=0
5. Forced labour, modern slavery and Trafficking in persons. International Labour Organization. (2024, September 9).
https://www.ilo.org/topics/forced-labour-modern-slavery-and-trafficking-persons
6. The barriers to employment faced by skilled migrants. SBS News. (n.d.).
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/podcast-episode/the-barriers-to-employment-faced-by-skilled-migrants/7pn2b8myb
7. Refugees are more vulnerable without civil registration and ID. how can we help?. Refugees are more vulnerable without
civil registration and ID. How can we help? | Centre of Excellence for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems. (n.d.).
https://crvssystems.ca/blog/refugees-are-more-vulnerable-without-civil-registration-and-id-how-can-we-help
8. Forced displacement. European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. (n.d.).
https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/humanitarian-aid/forced-displacement_en#:~:text=Related%20in
formation-,Introduction,in%20situations%20of%20forced%20displacement.
9. Comisión Nacional para Los Refugiados. Argentina.gob.ar. (2024, August 16).
https://www.argentina.gob.ar/interior/migraciones/comision-nacional-para-los-refugiados
