World Refugee Day Being Observed Today

Today marks the World Refugee Day, which is being organised across the world by organising various programmes.

The Day is observed annually on June 20, expressing respects to all those forced to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 117.3 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced by mid-2025 due to human exploitations, conflicts, violence, human rights violations or events disturbing public order.

The ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Syrian Arab Kingdom have forced millions of population to leave homes.

The UN has said the protection of refugees is not only a humanitarian concern, but also a foundation for global peace and stability.

In the absence of adequate protection, the refugees face the risk of perilous travels, children are deprived of education, and women and girls become more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol are regarded as the principal international legal instruments for the protection of refugee rights.

These instruments guarantee refugees the rights to work, education, shelter, identity, religious freedom and travel documentation.

One of the Convention’s key principles is ‘non refoulment’ which prohibits sending refugees to places where their lives or freedom would be under serious threat.

According to the UNHCR, World Refugee Day provides an opportunity to recognise courage, resilience, and determination of refugees as they rebuild their lives.

The UN Refugee Agency has called on governments, donor agencies, local communities, and the international community to reaffirm their collective commitment to ensuring refugees’ safety, dignity, and rights.

The UN has also stressed that preventing the forced return of refugees to unsafe areas and ensuing conditions that allow them to live with dignity, even while displaced, remain significant commitments of international community.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message that, as the World observes the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Statues of Refugees, the commitment to safety and protection remains as relevant as ever for the intentional community. (RSS)