2 photos: Dr. Kalibata inspects sacs of food, Mr. Torbaz looking thoughtful.

Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Internally Displaced

Opportunities
NOT Walls

Background

There were 89.3 million people forcibly displaced world-wide at the end of 2021 as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order. There are also millions of stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.

infographic of key figures from UNHCR's global trends report 2022

Among the 89.3M forcibly displaced:

27.1M are refugees
(21.3M refugees under UNHCR's mandate and 5.8M Palestine refugees under UNRWA's mandate)

There were also 53.2M internally displaced people, 4.6M asylum seekers, and 4.4M Venezuelans** displaced abroad (** this number excludes Venezuelan asylum seekers and refugees)

Source & more information - UNHCR

Who is a refugee?

The UN Refugee Agency defines a refugee as someone who:

"[O]wing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return."

In-depth reading on the Global Issue: Refugees

Displacement cycle — discrimination at every stage

Racial discrimination and related intolerance can affect refugees at every stage of the displacement cycle, including:

as a cause of displacement from their countries of origin
in transit countries
in host countries
in cases where refugees seek voluntary repatriation and reintegration in their home countries or third countries

Some groups of refugees may face barriers to local integration (including naturalization) because they are perceived as ‘foreign’ or ‘other.’

Spotlight: Local communities and the displaced are pulling together to support one another

Displaced nurses are providing vital health care to others displaced in Ethiopia’s Tigray. “I am a certified nurse and I want to help people in need,” says one who was forced to flee her village as a result of the Tigray conflict.

©UNHCR/Elisabeth Arnsdorf Haslund

Compounded discrimination

Racism experienced by refugees, as well as the internally displaced, may build on pre-existent forms of racism to exclude individuals who are perceived not to belong to the local community based on language, physical features, name etc. Such forms of racism go beyond situations of individual incidents of racism. Additionally, racism affecting foreigners in general may also affect refugees and asylum-seekers.

In many countries, race or national descent are invoked as grounds to deny or withdraw citizenship, leaving individuals stateless and stripped of the enjoyment of their human rights.

Discrimination on the ground of race often intersects with discrimination based on sex when laws and policies deny women the right to transmit their nationality onto their children.

Spotlight: Sports changing the life of refugees

Angola: The healing power of football and sport.

Tokyo Olympics 2021: "Because they can achieve something, they can overcome anything that they pass through…and it gives them a platform”, said Pur Biel. Pur, a participant in the UN’s SDG Zone at Tokyo, explained how sport had helped him to live through traumatic experiences in his home country, South Sudan.

UN Action

Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all UN Member States.

Reducing inequality is the tenth of the 17 goals, with the promise of safe migration included in SDG Target 10.7. Reducing inequality and ensuring no one is left behind are integral to Agenda 2030.

The Global Compact

States have committed and assumed obligations to address multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, returnees and stateless persons. The Global Compact on Refugees places ending discrimination of any kind based on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability, age, or other status at the centre of action to prevent displacement and to ensure peaceful coexistence between refugee and host communities.

Spotlight: Barbara Hendricks

UNHCR’s longest-serving Goodwill Ambassador – and world-renowned classical singer – describes her most memorable encounters during nearly 35 years working with forcibly displaced people.

UNHCR guidance and efforts

The UN Refugee agency (UNHCR) has issued guidance on addressing racism and xenophobia, providing practical examples and best practices for its operations around the world.

UNHCR’s efforts to address and respond to racism and racial discrimination focus on the following priorities:

the human rights of refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and stateless persons must be ensured without discrimination.
strong laws and policies to combat racism, xenophobia, hate crimes and hate speech are essential.
access to justice and effective remedies for victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, hate crimes or hate speech and holding those responsible to account.
inclusion of persons under its mandate in all exercises and platforms monitoring and collecting disaggregated data documenting racial discrimination, racism, xenophobia, hate crimes and hate speech.
education on the rights of persons under its mandate and messages encouraging inclusion, diversity, empathy and tolerance.
everyone can play a role to prevent and stop racism and xenophobia that affect refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and stateless persons.

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees's full message

UN Exhibition: One Day I Will

"These children are like children everywhere – they dream of becoming a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer. The difference is that most of them are forcibly displaced and struggling simply to stay safe and survive." - UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohamed

View exhibit

A boy holds a rag doll animal a girl holds a paper building

Where are we?

"Over the past year, we’ve witnessed the deadly impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the scourge of racism has also devastated many lives with tragic consequences.

Violent and deadly attacks against Black, Brown, Asian and Indigenous people, toxic language, and daily and sustained racially charged acts have rightly forced painful - but necessary - conversations to re-examine prejudice, privilege, the way we view the world, and most importantly how we act.

We must take this opportunity to work towards a world that is not just against racism, but is actively anti-racist.

As the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, I have seen first hand how racism and racial discrimination are a root cause of persecution and displacement. Actively combatting racism and racial discrimination can and will help prevent this. It will also reduce the dangerous discrimination and stigmatization that all too often confronts refugees in their countries of asylum."

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees's full message

For 70 years, the Refugee Convention has ensured that seeking asylum remains a fundamental human right. pic.twitter.com/cOnJpUVwQd
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) July 28, 2021

Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Internally Displaced

Background

Who is a refugee?

Displacement cycle — discrimination at every stage

Spotlight: Local communities and the displaced are pulling together to support one another

Compounded discrimination

Spotlight: Sports changing the life of refugees

UN Action

Sustainable Development Goals

The Global Compact

Spotlight: Barbara Hendricks

UNHCR guidance and efforts

UN Exhibition: One Day I Will

Where are we?

Links

Human Rights

Sustainable Development Goals

Refugees

Documents

Related observances and conferences

Search the United Nations

Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Internally Displaced

UN Action

Sustainable Development Goals

The Global Compact

Spotlight: Barbara Hendricks

UNHCR guidance and efforts

UN Exhibition: One Day I Will

Where are we?

Links

Human Rights

Sustainable Development Goals

Refugees

Documents

Related observances and conferences