That was the general theme that ensued when I tried to explain over dinner with some Greek friends what my line of work was. Try as I might to explain what a refugee was, this dinner guest would not listen; he was sure he was right.

Then it hit me: The common person would not know what a refugee is. So, what is a refugee?

A refugee is someone who has fled their country out of fear of harm on account of their race, religion, nationality, group affiliation or political opinion, and, because of this, is unable to return.

So think about it for a moment – what would be so serious that would make you leave your life as you know it, your family, your friends, your stability and run away elsewhere?

Some have witnessed loved ones being killed in cold blood before their eyes. Others have had their businesses seized, their houses torched and their wife raped – just because of their ethnicity. The threat can come from one’s own government itself or from rebel groups.

Human rights defend equality between all peoples, all beliefs and the right to peacefully voice your political views. What people do not often realize is that human rights also defend your right to request asylum.

Greece is one of 142 countries signatories to the 1951 Geneva Convention which aims to protect refugees and their rights. Different countries implement the principles set out by the convention in different ways.

One of the obstacles the European Union is facing is standardising its laws and policies and this also applies to asylum procedures. The Dublin Regulation is a law that returns asylum-seekers to their entry point in the EU in order to process their requests for asylum. In many cases, and because of its geographical location, that entry point is Greece.

There has been a lot of criticism by prominent organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to reform Greece’s asylum procedures. Some critics believe that these procedures often put asylum-seekers at risk and make their plight even more difficult. In some instances, many EU countries have stopped returns to Greece to avoid putting individuals in risk and, potentially, breaching the principles of protection set out by the 1951 Convention.

Panic over lack of jobs though is not what puts these asylum-seekers at harm. The Greek asylum procedure has been criticised of not being transparent, fair or efficient. In 2010, the United Nations Agency for Refugees, UNHCR, took an initiative with the Greek government to reform its asylum system however the fruits of this endeavour are yet to be seen.

The Arab world mostly does not have a fully mature asylum system and a lot of the responsibility falls on the UNHCR in the region. Although resources may be stretched in cases like this, the UNHCR is still able to maintain the principles set out by the 1951 Convention, an integral document of the organization’s statute.

The wheels of bureaucracy turn slow – most of us can attest to that when standing in line waiting for IKA or when we are hoping our government can change that one little thing in its policy. But the way we look at things can be the biggest step towards change. The Arab world is going through a democratic spring, but without cultural acceptance a lot of this sought-out freedom will be rendered dormant.

Change comes from within and maybe if we open the doors to our minds and hearts, we can allow exceptional individuals into our lives. So, what do a supermodel, scientist, and a former secretary of state have in common? They were refugees: Alek Wek, Einstein and Madeline Albright all offered a lot to society.