World Refugee Day is celebrated

By May 2022, more than 100 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide

Dear colleagues and partners,

On this year’s World Refugee Day, we want to shine a light on the right to seek safety.

All human beings should enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms without discrimination. This idea has been at the center of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1951 Refugee Convention and now the Global Compact on Refugees(GCR). For people forced to flee, this means being welcomed without prejudice and without the fear of being expelled or returned to a place where their lives or freedom may be threatened. Seeking safety, and returning in safety and dignity, is a human right.

By May 2022, more than 100 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide. New data released last week by UNHCR shows that the global refugee situation has continued to grow in scope and scale. Needs continue to outpace available resources and most refugees lack access to durable solutions, as highlighted in the GCR indicators report. In the face of the challenges, the Global Compact on Refugees sets out ways to foster greater support.
For instance, the Compact calls for an Asylum Capacity Support Group that assists States with the timely and efficient identification of persons with international protection needs. Also, the Compact calls for more resettlement and complementary pathways that provide people with safety and solutions to their plight.

On this special day, we would like to share stories and good practices from our community that remind us that whoever they are, wherever they come from, and whenever they are forced to flee, refugees should be welcome. Everyone has the right to seek safety.
We thank you for continuing to stand with refugees on World Refugee Day, and on all other days.

The GCR Coordination Team.