Finland’s Border Policies Raise Concerns Over Asylum Seekers’ Rights

In its relations to asylum seekers the Finnish authorities has applied measures such as the closure of the 1,300 km eastern border with Russia since December 2023 and the cuts in the social benefits. While the Nordic country uses these actions for security reasons, humanitarian agencies are becoming more and more concerned with the impact that these measures are likely to have on innocent persons in the asylum seeking process. Such has given rise to issues on how Governments should manage their national security issues with international law on protection of refugees.

Impact on Asylum Seekers

The human cost of this new policy in Finland is well depicted by the story of an Afghan asylum seeker Payman a man who has an impressive background that includes language proficiency in eight languages and two university degrees. The following is a true story of an educated man who finds it difficult to get an adequate job in Finland; this is a clear indication of the many problems faced by asylum seekers in the society of Finland. These requirements have added more hurdles to anyone who wants to start a new life in the country.

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UNHCR’s Response and Legal Issues

UNHCR recognizes Finland’s rights and its specific political context, but several key problems have been raised. As UNHCR greets some of the provisions representing the need for the personal decision, it notes that the measures suggested here can violate international and European law that excludes the territorial access for asylum seekers.