Foreign
THE UN’s refugee agency is marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention on Tuesday with a call for solidarity signed by global activists and celebrities.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih said the convention had saved millions of lives over the decades.
According to him, it goes to the core of our shared humanity; 75 years ago, the world made a promise to protect people forced to flee. Our responsibility now is to keep that promise alive, for all generations to come.
The convention, forged in the aftermath of World War II, states that every person, no matter who they are or where they are from, has the right to seek and enjoy safety from persecution.
To mark the 75th anniversary, the UNHCR launched ”The Promise” a public statement of solidarity.
Initial signatories include faith leaders, nobel laureates, artists, athletes, business figures, refugee leaders and human rights advocates, among them are Malala Yousafzai, Angelina Jolie and Antonio Rüdiger.
Salih said more than 41 million refugees remained forcibly displaced worldwide.
”The convention is also about finding solutions, and that means all of us acting together at the early stages of displacement, so refugees are not left to languish.
”We must support host countries and communities, expand opportunities for refugees, and create the conditions for voluntary return and other lasting solutions,” further said.(dpa/NAN)
A.I
July 28, 2026
Tags: Angelina Jolie Barham Salih Malala Yousafzai