KATHMANDU, June 20: Today marks World Refugee Day, which is observed across the world through various programmes.
The day is observed annually on June 20, paying respect 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 exploitation, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or events disturbing public order. Ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and the Syrian Arab Republic have forced millions to leave their homes.
Vitality of Ethics and Dignity in Human Existence
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, refugees face the risk of perilous journeys; 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 documents. One of the Convention’s key principles is non-refoulement, which prohibits sending refugees to places where their lives or freedom would be under serious threat.
According to UNHCR, World Refugee Day provides an opportunity to recognise the 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 ensuring conditions that allow them to live with dignity, even while displaced, remain significant commitments of the international community.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message that, as the world observes the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the commitment to safety and protection remains as relevant as ever for the international community.
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