What does it mean to be human? This is a simple question. My first thought is that I am conscious, breathing and alive. However, so is my cat, so this answer needs some work! If you ask a scientist, you may get a different answer than if you ask a lawyer. Upon reflection, I think that being self-aware, being able to do things like work, communicate through speech, and understand at a more sophisticated level than other animals or plants are some characteristics of being human. Being a human being, I am afforded certain rights, these are known as Human Rights, as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite the acceptance of these rights, there are many vulnerable groups around the world who have these rights violated or deprived. One such group is refugees, and in this essay, I focus primarily on refugees in Europe. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned'? Get an original essay According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 14) “Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. " In other words, refugee rights are protected by international law. This law is commonly overlooked and refugees often suffer human rights violations while trying to seek asylum. Abuses at Europe's borders are one of the problems faced by refugees. Duncan Breen argues that the reason for this is because Europe does not address the problem of abuse and because there are not enough legal entry systems that protect refugees (Breen, 2016) The examples he uses are well documented and he supports his point by discussing countries who have successfully implemented programs aimed at protecting refugees such as Switzerland and Ireland. Not everyone agrees with the notion of guaranteed human rights in every situation. Michael Blake argues that people already living in a jurisdiction have more rights of those seeking asylum. Theorizes that immigrants crossing a state impose obligations on people who live there that they should not have to comply with. Furthermore, it states: “…They have no obligation to allow unwanted aliens to become members and can therefore use violent force against those who want to enter the territory of the state.” (Blake, 2013, p.106) I disagree with this argument as everything it states is in violation of international law and human rights. The right to live free from violence should be guaranteed to everyone, regardless of their origin. When we start to be selective about whose rights we protect, we leave more groups open to discrimination and greater risks of harm. Who are we to decide which people are most worthy of living free from harm and where does this leave us? Inhumane acts refer to cruel treatment and violations of human rights. Kalpouzis and Mann (2015) discuss issues related to the conditions that refugees are often forced to face and which can impact their health. These include things like lack of access to basic services like toilets, hunger, cramped living conditions and sexual violence. Their main argument is that the ICC has an obligation to take all human rights violations seriously, not just those it deems evil. Even the most common problems should be prosecuted because they continue to violate international human law. This is something I totally agree with since even humiliation, degradation and things that some mightconsidered “insignificant” can have a huge impact on a person's psychological well-being. We must therefore view them in the same light as we view other crimes against refugees. There are other factors that put the safety of refugees at risk. Human trafficking is another problem faced by those fleeing their country. This occurs in some countries more than others, for example in Greece, which has many undocumented migrants and lax prostitution laws that make it easier for trafficking to occur. (Miller, Wasileski, 2010) It is also argued that some of the reasons why refugees are more at risk of trafficking are that they often do not have social support or access to legal assistance and that the government needs to implement better ways to protect them. I support this argument because it is the government's responsibility to ensure that the rights of all people, including refugees, are protected. If the current measures in place are not working, it is necessary to look for other ways that may be more useful in reducing trafficking of vulnerable people. Sexual exploitation of refugees and gender-based violence are often associated with women, as studies show that refugee women are more vulnerable. However, there is also evidence of sexual exploitation of refugee boys traveling alone. It is argued that we must not overlook this aspect and that further research is essential to develop strategies, methods and ways to prevent this from happening. Freccaro, Biswas, Whiting, Alrabe, and Seelinger (2017) argue that to address this issue it is essential to look at the problem from different perspectives with a focus on community, family, and structure. I agree with this theory as it has been proven in Sociology that looking at things from many levels gives us better understanding. The three main solutions outlined are vital and link together to provide better outcomes for migrant children. Another significant issue refugees face is access to healthcare. Langlois, Haines, Tomson & Ghaffer (2016) discuss how the lack of healthcare has a detrimental effect and argue that it should be classified as a basic human right. Furthermore, they also state that “Exclusion from healthcare is exacerbated by the undocumented status of many refugees…”. I believe that everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, should be able to access healthcare. Studies have shown that refugees often have significant health problems that include both mental and physical health. Denying them access to adequate healthcare without restrictions or waits, as is often the case, is detrimental to ensuring that their healthcare needs are met. As discussed earlier in the essay, we can see that refugees face many challenges and human rights violations. Another key issue is the right to education for refugee children. Simopoulos and Alexandrisis (2019) argue that integration is better than segregation and has better outcomes. They recommend some key requirements that must be met in order for refugee children to have a more positive experience in the education system. Looking back in time we can see many examples of segregation that had negative outcomes, my belief supports the view expressed by the authors. Refugee children should be integrated into the education system, separating them can take away any sense of belonging and can further condemn them. Finally, we will look at the issue of the use of surveillance, including drones, at European borders and the possible impact on refugees. Loukinas (2017) argues that human rights are already at risk due to.