Published on: 2026-07-28
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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July 28, 2026 Refugees and migrants
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced the launch of a new global campaign. The agency calls on governments, international organizations, and compassionate people around the world to help protect those who have been forced to flee their homes to escape war, violence, and persecution.
An initiative called “The Promise” is launching at a critical moment: there are more than 41 million refugees worldwide today. Unrelenting conflicts continue to destroy family lives. Host countries have faced unprecedented pressure.
The campaign, led by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, aims to form a broad coalition in support of refugees ahead of the Global Refugee Forum scheduled for 2027.
Broad support coalition
Among the first 75 people to pledge participation in the global campaign “The Promise” were well-known actors and humanitarian figures: Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, Ben Stiller, as well as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. Leaders of refugee communities, business representatives, religious figures, and human rights advocates have already joined the movement.
They all unanimously call for the creation of a world in which:
Every forcibly displaced person can find safe shelter;
Local communities openly welcome refugees;
Governments act preventively, providing timely assistance to host countries and developing long-term solutions to the issue of population displacement.
“Seventy-five years ago, the world made a promise to protect people fleeing for their lives,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih. “Our duty today is to keep that promise effective for all future generations.”
The principles of the Convention are more relevant than ever
Adopted in 1951 against the backdrop of the aftermath of World War II, the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees laid the legal foundation for international protection and established the fundamental principle: people fleeing persecution must not be returned to places where their lives are at risk.
UNHCR emphasizes that the key principles of the Convention are more relevant today than ever — in conditions where the unprecedented scale of global displacement is putting the entire humanitarian aid system to a severe test.
“We must support host countries and communities, empower the refugees themselves, and also create conditions for their voluntary return home and the implementation of other long-term solutions,” Salih emphasized.
UNHCR hopes that the campaign will help reinforce the time-tested principles of the Refugee Convention at a moment when millions of people remain homeless and the needs for humanitarian aid continue to grow rapidly.
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