Expulsion

Denial of right to freedom from arbitrary expulsion

Nature

'Expulsion' is an act, or a failure to act, by a State with the intention and the effect of securing the departure of a person or persons against their will from the territory of that State. The concept of expulsion encompasses indirect measures including ill-treatment, racial and other forms of discriminatory practices, harassment and other means of coercion designed to force people to leave—as well as the direct exercice of State power. Forms of indirect measures or practices are many and are sometimes of a subtle kind. These can be of a psychological as well as of an economic or social nature. In some cases, the authorities of a State tolerate, or even aid and abet, acts by its citizens with the intended effect if driving persons out of the territory of that State. An example is 'panic flight' where, for the purpose of removing the persons concerned, the authorities create a climate of fear or do nothing that can be reasonably expected of them to assure those comtemplating flight that they would be protected.

Background

The global significance of expulsion emerged prominently in the 20th century, as mass displacements during and after major conflicts—such as World War II and the partition of India—drew international attention to the profound social, political, and humanitarian consequences of forced removal. Subsequent decades saw increased documentation and analysis by organizations like the United Nations, deepening understanding of expulsion as a recurring phenomenon affecting millions and shaping international legal and policy responses.

Incidence

The government of Sri Lanka, in 1990, claimed that the militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had forcibly expelled, all at once, nearly 40,000 members of the Muslim community from the Mannar area in the northern part of the country, which had led to a massive number of displaced and missing persons.

Claim

Expulsion is a deeply troubling issue that demands urgent attention. Removing students from educational environments not only disrupts their learning but also increases their risk of falling behind, dropping out, and facing future hardships. This practice disproportionately affects marginalized groups, perpetuating cycles of inequality and injustice. We cannot ignore the long-term damage caused by expulsion; it is a critical problem that undermines the very foundation of equitable and effective education.

Counter-claim

Expulsion is vastly overblown as a societal concern. In reality, it affects a minuscule fraction of students or employees, and often results from repeated, serious infractions. Most people never face expulsion, and its rare occurrence hardly disrupts the broader system. Energy spent worrying about expulsion would be better directed toward more pressing issues that impact far greater numbers. Frankly, it’s simply not an important problem in the grand scheme of things.