This has been the focus of Abdelaaty’s research, shared in her book, Discrimination and Delegation: Explaining State Responses to Refugees (Oxford University Press, 2021). She shows how discrimination toward those fleeing a dangerous conflict can have damaging impacts, from how they view their self-worth to the services they receive and their ability to cope. Labels used to describe them—refu- gees and migrants—impact how countries respond, including the definitions of who is a refugee and who is a migrant, she says.  

In the case of Ukraine, Abdelaaty says the correct term to use is migrants, since anyone who is fleeing their home due to indiscriminate violence would not qualify for refugee status under the 1951 Refugee Convention outlined by the United Nations. Under the terms of that treaty, a refugee is a person who is persecuted based on their race or religion.  

From the start, Ukrainians were deemed refugees, a stark contrast to 2015, when Abdelaaty says there was much debate over how to refer to those fleeing places such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.  

Abdelaaty hopes the way Ukrainians are being helped can set the standard for future crises.  

“We need to think carefully about why it is we believe some people are more worthy of support, compassion and assistance than others. We don’t need a United Nations treaty to define the limits of our compassion,” says Abdelaaty.  

—By John Boccacino ’20 E.M.P.A.