FORUM: Whoever. Wherever. Whenever. Everyone has the right to seek safety. World Refugee Day 2022.
On World Refugee Day, we reflect on the courage and resilience of those fleeing war, violence, and persecution – and we recognize the compassion of those who welcome them.
Today, the global refugee population is at a record high.
The war in Ukraine has triggered the largest and fastest displacement in Europe since World War II.
Together with the women, children, and men fleeing conflict elsewhere in the world, the total number of forcibly displaced people has reached 100 million – a grim indictment of our times.
This year’s World Refugee Day affirms a fundamental tenet of our common humanity: everyone has the right to seek safety – whoever they are, wherever they come from, and whenever they are forced to flee.
International law is clear:
The right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right.
People escaping violence or persecution must be able to cross borders safely.
They must not face discrimination at borders or be unfairly denied refugee status or asylum due to their race, religion, gender, or country of origin.
They cannot be forced to return if their lives or freedom would be at risk.
And like every human being, they should be treated with respect.
But safety is just the first step.
Once out of harm’s way, refugees need opportunities.
Opportunities to heal, to learn, to work, and to thrive.
Opportunities to return home if they so choose, or to rebuild their lives elsewhere, in safety and dignity.
Across the world, refugees have brought new life, prosperity, and rich cultural diversity to their host communities.
Protecting refugees is a responsibility we all share.
Today, let us pledge to do more for refugees everywhere – and for the countries that host them while themselves facing a cascade of challenges.
Let us stand together in solidarity.
Let us defend the integrity of the international protection regime.
And let us never lose sight of our common humanity.
U.N. Secretary-General.
EVENTS: World Refugee Day 2022 events and festivals will be held in the several UNHCR Headquarters and at United Nations Heaquarters in Geneva and New york.
For questions regarding World Refugee Day, please contact hqwrd@unhcr.org
The
World Refugee Day observance aims is to
step up efforts worldwide to ensure everyone everywhere at any time is able to enjoy the right to health and access high-quality health services that are sensitive to their needs, and appropriate for each person’s culture and needs, without financial impediment. This is key to achieving universal health coverage.
If policies that promote the health of refugees and all people on the move are in place, refugees and migrants can contribute to the full and flourishing life of a country and to supporting the economy, culture and a diverse society.FUNDAMENTALS OF SEEKING SAFETY
CORE MESSAGES
Every person has the right to seek safety – whoever
they are, wherever they come from, and whenever
they are forced to flee
WHOEVER
Whoever they are, people forced to flee should be treated with
dignity. Anyone can seek protection, regardless of who they
are or what they believe. It is nonnegotiable: seeking safety is a human right.
WHEREVER
Wherever they come from, people forced to flee should be welcomed.
Refugees come from all over the globe. To get out of harm’s way,
they might take a plane, a boat, or travel on foot. What remains
universal is the right to seek safety.
WHENEVER
Whenever people are forced to flee, they have a right to be
protected. Whatever the threat –war, violence, persecution –
everyone deserves protection. Everyone has a right to be safe.
FUNDAMENTALS OF SEEKING SAFETY
1. THE RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM
Seeking asylum is a human right. Anyone fleeing persecution, conflict, or human rights
abuses has a right to seek protection in another country.
2. SAFE ACCESS
Borders should remain open to all people forced to flee. Restricting access and closing borders
can make the journey even more dangerous for people seeking safety.
3. NO PUSHBACKS
People can’t be forced to return to a country if their life or freedom would be at risk. This means that countries shouldn’t push anyone back without first evaluating the dangers they would face back home.
4. NO DISCRIMINATION
People should not be discriminated against at borders. All applications for refugee status must
be given fair consideration, regardless of factors like race, religion, gender and country of origin.
5. HUMANE TREATMENT
People forced to flee should be treated with respect and dignity. They are entitled to safe and
dignified treatment like any human being. Among other things, this means keeping families
together, protecting people from traffickers, and avoiding arbitrary detention.
WHAT DOES THIS MATTER!
PROTECTING PEOPLE TO FLEE IS A COLLECTIVE GLOBAL RESPONSABILITYCountries and communities that receive and host
large numbers of refugees, relative to their national
populations and economies, need steadfast support
and solidarity from the international community.
REACHING SADETY IS JUST A START
Countries and communities that receive and host
large numbers of refugees, relative to their national
populations and economies, need steadfast support
and solidarity from the international community.
Once they are out of harm’s way, people fleeing war or persecution need opportunities to heal, learn, work and thrive – in line with the Refugee Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees. And they need solutions, such as the chance to return home in safety and dignity, to integrate locally, or in the most vulnerable cases to be resettled to a third country.
, UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie called on the world to focus on finding solutions to reduce refugee numbers globally.
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