Sweden: The UN Global Migration agreement which aims to welcome migrants with open arms and better manage migration has been met with a lot of criticism. Many critics argue that this could challenge national sovereignty and bring about an influx of migrants.

While a lot of countries from Europe have retreated, Sweden are one of the counties that have chosen to sign the Global Compact for Migration. The Swedes however have protested this signing.

Many believe that migrants impose a threat to the sovereignty of a nation. The safety and security of the people of a nation is at stake. In India, the infiltration of people of the Rohingya community is a cause of concern among intelligence agencies and the government. Though India has been helpful in providing aid to these refugees, this does not take away the potential dangers that some refugees may pose.

Media reports have quoted government officials stating that there is a growing concern that Rohingya Muslims could be cannon fodder for jihadist organisations given the persecution that they have faced.

It’s no different in the European countries as terror groups chance on the opportunity of using migrants from the middle east and African countries.

Migrants always come with baggage of their experiences and culture and not to forget their conditioning.  In Sweden, a few days ago, a group of people staged a protest outside Parliament against the UN migration agreement. The three main speakers against the UN migration agreement were all women.

Many of the Swedish women are anti-mass migration. The UN agreement seeks to reduce the risk and vulnerability faced by migrants. The Swedes, however, have a major concern on their mind; migration violence. The threat that it poses to women is what most of the Swedes are worried about.

One of the speakers at the protest, writer and journalist Katerina Janouch stated that thus far women have suffered due to mass migration, and women have had to change their habits. She considers that migration politics betrays women in Sweden and claims that most of them who are brought in from migrant countries have a terrible view of women.  Many men from migrant countries are heavily represented in sex crimes and women don’t feel safe anymore, she added.

Another woman debater, singer Bianca Muratagic expressed her dissatisfaction with what she feels is a great injustice caused by irresponsible politicians and failed refugee politics. She lashed out at the Swedish government saying that the state can no longer guarantee the safety of their women and children.

Speaking for the sovereignty of the nation, a 15-year old student, Izabella Nilsson Jarvandi said that the Swedes may not demonstrate in the same way as the French, but that one should be careful while angering the sons and daughters of the Vikings preparing for a rebellion.

It is impossible for anyone to ignore both sides of the coin. While there has to be an assurance and better protection and upholding of human rights for migrants, one cannot entirely ignore the fear of safety of women and children of a country.

Like Sweden and other nations India too is torn in this conundrum. Though the nation would love to help and takes all efforts to help and stand for human rights, the potential of violation of human rights caused by infiltration seems to stare the nation in the face.  

With refugees, the intent is to repatriate them when the environment is conducive for a return, but many refugees never go back to their homeland.  As reported by Parul Chandra of SNi, Bangladesh was unable to repatriate the first batch of Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar as they simply refused to go back. Since the return is supposed to be voluntary, the repatriation effort was postponed.

With countries like Sweden signing the UN migration agreement, it is no doubt that their governments will continue to face a lot of flak. Will this bring about more hate and violence between migrants and nationals and contradict the intent of the agreement? While the agreement on paper looks to welcome migrants with open arms, the faces of the so called “welcoming” nation seem to tell a different story.