Securing Refugee Protection in a Cold Climate (Introduction‪)‬

The terrible events of September 11, 2001, in the U.S. continue to have an impact on the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in a range of states. This is despite the fact that little evidence has been produced to demonstrate any link between international terrorism and refugee movements in, for example, Canada or the U.S. The suspicion is that governments have used events to justify the accelerated implementation of policies which were already being considered, or have applied existing authorities inappropriately in this new context. Through such cynical manipulation of this tragedy governments too display a lack of respect for the victims of international terrorism. Governments have a duty to protect their citizens. Citizens have the right to expect to be protected. Those who support a "social contract" model of democratic life affirm not only the duties of the citizen, but also the responsibilities of the state. That governments come under intense pressure to offer security to their citizens is not in doubt. No one disputes the role of the state in securing the conditions which make a decent human life possible.