75 years after the Refugee Convention… a warning about the decline of the right to asylum and a global campaign to renew the promise of protection

The Secretary-General of the United Nations warned that the promise made by countries 75 years ago “is facing increasing pressure today” in light of the escalation of conflicts and the increasing number of displaced people.

In a statement he issued on this occasion, the Secretary-General said that, following World War II, states made a promise that no person fleeing persecution would be returned to a place where his life or freedom would be threatened, adding that the 1951 Convention gave this promise the force of law, and it has since contributed to saving millions of lives, and has become “One of the clearest images of our shared humanity.”

The UNHCR initiative comes at a time when more than 41 million refugees remain displaced around the world, while conflicts continue to uproot families from their homes, and place increasing pressure on asylum systems and countries hosting those seeking safety.

The initiative is led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, and aims to build a broad coalition to support refugee protection, in preparation for the convening of the Global Refugee Forum in 2027, which will bring together representatives of various components of civil society to reaffirm the right to seek asylum and rebuild the lives of those who were forced to flee due to conflicts and persecution.

Broad coalition

The list of the first 75 people to join the initiative includes actors and humanitarian activists Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett and Ben Stiller, as well as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Leaders from the refugee community, business figures, religious leaders, and human rights defenders also joined the initiative.

The signatories call for building a world in which people who have been forced to flee can seek safety, in which refugees are welcomed within host communities, and in which governments take the initiative to support host countries and work to find durable solutions to displacement situations.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, said: “Seventy-five years ago, the world made a promise to protect people forced to flee. Today it is our responsibility to fulfill that promise, so that it continues for generations to come.”

The right to asylum under pressure

In his statement, the Secretary-General warned that this historic promise is facing unprecedented challenges, noting that conflicts are multiplying and persecution continues, while the numbers of people being forced to flee are increasing.

He said, “The right to seek asylum has often become questioned, restricted, or even denied,” stressing that the Refugee Convention “It is not a legacy of a bygone era, but it remains as necessary today as it was when it was adopted.”

He added that the Convention “is not an obstacle that must be circumvented, but rather a foundation that must be preserved” by ensuring access to protection, fair and humane asylum procedures, and full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, without any discrimination.

The Secretary-General also stressed the need to reject policies that shift protection responsibilities to other parties, punish people for seeking safety, or make protection conditional on nationality, religion, ethnicity or route of arrival.

Renewal of commitment

Adopted in 1951 in the wake of World War II, the Refugee Convention established the legal basis for refugee protection and established the principle that people fleeing persecution should not be returned to places where they might be at risk.

The Commission said that the principles on which the agreement is based remain just as important today, at a time when displacement levels have reached record levels, placing great pressure on humanitarian systems around the world.

Barham Saleh added: “We must support host countries and communities, expand opportunities for refugees, and create conditions that enable voluntary returns and other durable solutions.”

For his part, the Secretary-General called for strengthening international cooperation and sharing responsibility, including supporting host countries and communities that host large numbers of refugees despite their limited resources.

Guterres stressed that the Refugee Convention “Born from humanity’s failure to protect people in their darkest moments of need,” Warning against repeating this failure, he called on all member states to “renew their commitment to the letter and spirit of the agreement, and to choose solidarity instead of indifference, and humanity instead of fear.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees expressed its hope that the “Promise” campaign would contribute to strengthening the established principles of the Refugee Convention, at a time when millions of people are still displaced and humanitarian needs continue to increase.