PERAN UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) DALAM MENGHADAPI KEBIJAKAN AUSTRALIA TERHADAP PENCARI SUAKA TRANSIT DI INDONESIA

Abstract

Indonesia was chosen as a transit country, because it has a strategic geographical location for asylum seekers using maritime transport routes. Furthermore, while not bound by the 1951 Convention, Indonesia adheres to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (DUHAM). DUHAM recognizes the right of every human being to seek asylum in another country, so that Indonesia ensures that the basic needs of refugees in its territory are met.
This is a form of Indonesia's seriousness in implementing its obligations to the observance of human rights. Asylum-seekers transiting Indonesia are generally aimed at reaching Australia by sea.Australia has become a destination for asylum-seekers due to the country's secure economic factors. Then Indonesia cooperated with various world organizations such as UNHCR and international organizations for migration (IOM) to deal with the refugees. These are the organizations that take care of the status of asylum seekers, whether they will get a visa to the country of destination or be returned to their country of origin.
So asylum seekers put great hopes on the Indonesian government granting residence permits during the process of voluntary return or resettlement in a third country by UNHCR. During the wait, the refugees interacted with the locals. Despite living with uncertainty of fate, the hospitality of Indonesian locals themselves is the sole reason why asylum seekers are willing to stay in Indonesia

Keywords: Asylum Seekers, Australian Policy, UNHCR