Highlighting the scale of the issue, the UN Secretary-General notes that today the global refugee population is at unprecedented high levels.
“Protecting refugees is a responsibility we all share,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message on today’s World Refugee Day. “On World Refugee Day, we reflect on the courage and resilience of those fleeing war, violence and persecution, and recognize the compassion of those who welcome them,” Antonio Guterres said in a statement.
Highlighting the scale of the issue, the Secretary-General notes that today the global refugee population is at unprecedented levels.
“The war in Ukraine has caused the largest and fastest displacement in Europe since World War II. “Together with women, children and men fleeing conflict in other parts of the world, the total number of displaced people has reached 100 million.”
According to the UN Secretary-General, this year’s World Refugee Day confirms one of the fundamental tenets of our common humanity: Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
“International law is clear: The right to asylum is a fundamental human right. People fleeing violence or persecution must be able to cross the border safely. They must not be discriminated against at the border or unfairly deprived of refugee status or asylum because of their race, religion, sex or country of origin. They can not be forced to return if their lives or freedom are at stake. “Like any human being, they must be treated with respect.”
At the same time, he suggests that security is only the first step, as as soon as they get out of danger, refugees need opportunities. “Opportunities to heal, to learn, to work and to provoke. “Opportunities to return to their homeland, if they wish, or to rebuild their lives elsewhere, safely and with dignity,” he said.
Antonio Guterres further points out that all over the world, refugees have brought new life, prosperity and rich cultural diversity to their host countries and emphasizes that the protection of refugees is a responsibility we all share.
In this context, he called on “to commit ourselves to do more for refugees everywhere – and for the countries that host them, while facing a number of challenges”, to “stand united in solidarity”, to “defend its integrity” regime of international protection “and” let us never forget our common humanity “.
