Karen Smith: Ireland has an obligation to protect those fleeing war or persecution

Karen Smith highlights the importance of a rights-based approach to accommodating and supporting refugees

A woman and child from Mariupol say goodbye to their friend before their train leaves Zaporizhia station in Ukraine on Monday. It is essential that those arriving from Ukraine are fully informed of their rights and that there are effective, transparent, and user-friendly mechanisms in place for monitoring provision, making complaints and resolving disputes. Photo: AP/Evgeniy Maloletka

THE abusive treatment reported in this paper at the weekend experienced by a Ukrainian woman and her daughter at the hands of the family in whose home they were staying highlights the dangers of informal hosting arrangements.

I would argue that it also underlines the importance of a rights-based approach to accommodating and supporting refugee persons. The mother in this case has shared her experience of being exploited as an unpaid cleaner and threatened with deportation as a warning to others and her call to obtain accommodation only through official channels is worth emphasising.