Social workers are one at the frontline of solidarity with vulnerable groups in all societies and international exchange of knowledge is necessary for dealing with trans-cultural problems. Social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.
What is evident from the realities of practice is that social workers need to be knowledgeable and effective in their role with refugees and asylum seekers. Professional leadership, support and training both nationally and internationally in transcultural issues, immigration legislation, trauma counselling and support and inter-professional working is essential to prevent the demoralization of social workers working in this area.
In this context, it is timely that social workers should seek to improve their capacities to contribute to care for all those who have sought refugees and asylum seeker including unaccompanied minor. Social work as a profession clearly has much to offer in services for them.
From a skill base that integrates intrapersonal and interpersonal helping with the practicalities of assisting people to negotiate their way around the social welfare system, social workers can respond to the complex needs of them and minimize the impact of Indonesia has not ratified yet the 1951 Refugee Convention by following best practices include culturally competent services, advocacy, and thoroughly supported community integration. The opportunity of refugees and asylum seekers resettled into a third country will always exist and most importantly they do not lose hope of it.
Recommendation for Indonesian Government Towards Ratification of The 1951 Refugee Convention.
Indonesia should determine its position in responding to the current refugees and asylum seekers who continue to make Indonesia as a destination country. Indonesian government has the authority to make regulations on clear boundaries to be able to accept anyone who can become a citizen and anyone who can not become a citizen.Â
Those qualified to become Indonesian citizens require them to be able to integrate locally and assimilate with the local people and to be sanctioned in violation under applicable law as well as on the basis of existing social norms. it is also definitely an obligation of Indonesia to treat the refugees and asylum seekers is the same position as other Indonesian citizens.
The available options are voluntary repatriation to be taken considering that resettlement in Indonesia as a long-term solution is not achieved or deported. Thus Indonesia has provided 'legal ways' for these refugees to start their new lives and not to do 'smooth ways' on the basis of humanity to accommodate them but the uncertainty of their citizenship status so they can not earn a decent living as their rights in Indonesia.
Indonesian government's attention to refugees and asylum seekers does not mean ignoring the domestic obligations of Indonesia, but always combined with the international responsibility that always upholds Human Rights.
This essay is such a form of encouragement and support to Indonesian in promoting recognition and encouraging the legal framework of refugee protection by ratifying the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol. It is also in line with one of the Indonesian State Philosophy "Pancasila" that upholds the fair and civilized values of humanity.
Alongside with that, social worker as a profession in humanitarian action plays a crucial role in helping the asylum seekers and refugees to uphold and protect their rights to get freedom of movement, housing, education, justice, lawful employment, integrating into their host communities, and so forth.
