AHRC observes World Refugee Day

The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) joins the global community in observing and recognizing the World Refugee Day which falls annually on June 20.

This day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001. During this day, the world utilizes this occasion to advance awareness and collaboration efforts to improve the lives of refugees across the globe. Refugees are a universal crisis and a shared humanitarian responsibility. The world refugee crisis is one of the most pressing crises. It is getting worse.

Refugees’ numbers are drastically increasing due to wars, conflicts, violence, terror, natural disasters, prosecutions, torture, and other factors. Event beyond refugees’ control force them to flee their own countries and seek shelter for themselves and their family.

The recent Russian war on Ukraine has resulted in additional millions of refugees and displaced people. No one chooses to be or become a refugee. Refugees’ crisis is a human tragedy and true global crisis facing the modern world. Millions live in refugee camps in miserable conditions awaiting final settlement while facing huge challenges. Many have died or lost loved ones through this tough journey. This resettlement process is very bureaucratic and is not easy. It requires long time. It takes years before they finally settle and begin a stable and secure life. The process should be changed to ease the refugees’ burden.

World Refugee Day serves as a reminder that all refugees are equally human, and the settlement process should be one and the same for all of our brothers and sisters in humanity. Refugee treatment should not be contingent on refugees’ national origin or faith or any other irrelevant factors. The process can’t be selective and discriminatory. All those escaping death and persecution should be fairly treated.

“Ukraine, other conflicts push forcibly displaced total over 100 million for first time. Figure must ‘serve as a wake-up call’ for more action to promote peace and address all causes of forced displacement," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

“Human beings are not a burden, they are human capital,” said Imad Hamad, AHRC Executive Director. “Until repatriation or resettlement, the humane and enlightened way to deal with the refugees is for the host states to think of them as assets that can contribute to the host economy, not as a burden,” added Hamad. “Integration benefits the refugees and the host society,” concluded Hamad.