The response of states to the emergence in the second half of the 20th century as a result of civil unrest and armed conflicts of large numbers of refugees in Africa and Latin America became the adoption of a number of regional agreements. For example, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) 1969 on Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa and the 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees included in the number of refugees also people fleeing from war or civil armed conflicts, seriously disturbing public order in the country. Time has proved the necessity and effectiveness of these instruments which have become effective tools for resolution of refugee problems in these areas (Haddad, 2004).
Recently there has been a significant flow of refugees from Latin America. Among the reasons that caused the flow of migrants from Central America to the United States, experts have called a surge of violence in the countries of the region. For example, the statistics of murders in El Salvador has achieved over the past year or two a record high level. Also, the situation is aggravated by drought hit Central America. The so-called Northern Triangle - the three countries of Central America - is considered one of the most dangerous places to live on the planet (Kandel et al, 2014). Tens of thousands of Salvadorans, Guatemalans and Hondurans, many of which are unaccompanied minors, arrived in recent years in the United States, fleeing from skyrocketing levels of violence in the region. These countries experienced in the 80-ies civil wars that have left behind “law of the strong” and fragile power structures. However, recent events in Guatemala and Honduras have generated talk of a “Central American Spring”, when protesters in both countries to an unprecedented amount took to the streets, denouncing corruption and demanding more accountability from their leaders (Kandel et al., 2014).
Almost 10% of the 30 million inhabitants of the countries of the Northern Triangle have fled, mostly to the United States. In 2013, 2.7 million people lived there, who was born in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, in comparison with the estimated half million in 2000. In the period from October 2013 to July 2015 in the United States from the triangle hundred thousand unaccompanied minors came, and this draw attention to the new trend of emigration. After the US forced Mexico to control its southern border, in 2015 70% more Central Americans than in the previous year were detained (Eguizábal et al., 2015).
Many seek escape from the violence in their native boundaries: between 2009 and 2013 the United States recorded on its southern border a seven-fold increase in the number applying for asylum, 70% of which are from the Northern Triangle. A similar rise is registered also by neighboring to problematic region Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. As the reasons for departure, migrants from the three countries triangle call violence, forced mobilization to gangs, extortion, poverty and lack of prospects in the lives (Kandel et al., 2014).
El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are constantly rising in the ranking of the most dangerous countries in the world. The violence associated with banditry, raised in El Salvador in 2015 the number of homicides to 90 per hundred thousand people, making the country the most dangerous in the world among non-belligerent states. In all three countries the homicide rate is significantly higher than in neighboring Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama (Eguizábal et al., 2015).
At the differences in the nature of violence in each country, there are common threats: the rapid growth of gangs, using the region as a transit of drugs in the US and impunity. These are the main factors of insecurity in the region.
In total, about 100 thousand families from Central America during 2014-2015 entered the United States through the south-western border, many were allowed to stay for the duration of the state decision for asylum. The United Nations calls on Washington to equate juvenile migrants from Central American to refugees fleeing armed conflicts and excesses of the drug cartels. The White House is considering the possibility of organizing a new procedure granting refugee status to children from Central American countries. Under this program, the applications of juvenile on asylum in the United States will be treated in the country of residence, and not as currently by US immigration courts. This program will be tested in Honduras. If it is successful in Honduras, one of the most criminogenic countries of the world, it can be extended to other countries of Central America (Eguizábal et al, 2015.).
Considering the role of the media in covering the theme of migration, Ethical Journalism Network (EJN) has released the report of the Moving Stories, published by the International Migrant's Day. The report analyzes how migration and refugees topics are covered in the media in 14 countries around the world (Eguizábal et al., 2015). The main findings of the report tell that media made several serious mistakes, highlighting the theme of refugees and migrants. For example, in 2014, they failed to warn the world about the coming crisis, linked to the Syrian refugees. In addition, among such errors is massaging of anti-immigrant themes of speeches of political leaders in the United States and Europe and the inability to provide objective and accurate information on the crisis situation. Media also continue to show a tendency to exaggeration and sensationalism.
Despite these shortcomings, the journalists are also showing examples related to the topic of refugees with understanding and empathy that it deserves - and this journalism should serve as an example for the rest of the profession.
Refugees are among the most vulnerable groups. The problem of persons in need of international protection should be approached, first of all, with a comprehensive approach, but it should not only be handled by the states themselves. An effective mechanism should be created to ensure the legal status of these categories of persons, with the support of the international community and media.
Works Cited
Eguizábal, Cristina et al. Crime and Violence in Central America’s Northern Triangle. How U.S. Policy Responses are Helping, Hurting, and can be Improved. Woodrow Wilson Center Reports on the Americas, #34, 2015. Print.
Haddad, Emma. The Refugee in International Society: Between Sovereigns. Cambridge University Press, 2004. Print.
ICAR. Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Media. ICAR Briefing, February, 2012. Print.
Kandel, William A. et al. Unaccompanied Alien Children: Potential Factors Contributing to Recent Immigration. Congressional Research Service, CRS Report R43628, 2014. Print.
