The UN marked the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention by warning that the right to asylum is increasingly politicised and under strain. UNHCR chief Barham Salih urged a shift from managing mass displacement to addressing its root causes, while António Guterres said the convention has "saved millions of lives." UNHCR reported 117.8 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of 2025 — a slight fall from 2024 — even as funding dropped about 35% and nearly 5,000 posts were cut in 2025.
As Refugee Convention Turns 75, UN Sounds Alarm on Eroding Asylum Rights
The UNHCR's funding and workforce have been slashed (Sanaullah SEIAM)
Geneva — The United Nations warned Tuesday that the right to seek asylum is under growing political strain as the 1951 Refugee Convention marks its 75th anniversary. Speaking at the Palais des Nations in Geneva — where the treaty was opened for signature on July 28, 1951 — UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih called for a shift from managing record displacement to addressing its root causes.
Political Pressure and Public Perception
Salih, an Iraqi former president who was himself once a refugee, warned that asylum debates have become increasingly politicised. He said refugees are frequently made scapegoats for broader social, economic and political anxieties and are too often depicted as burdens or threats rather than as fellow human beings.
"Too often, people forced to flee become scapegoats for wider social, economic and political anxieties. Too often, refugees are portrayed as burdens or threats rather than as fellow human beings," said Salih.
Scope of Displacement and Recent Trends
UNHCR reported that 117.8 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced at the end of 2025, a slight decline from 2024's record 123.2 million. That drop — the first in a decade — reflected returns from countries such as Iran and Lebanon, with many refugees going back to dangerous settings including Syria and Afghanistan.
Funding Shortfalls and Operational Impact
UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that the Refugee Convention has "saved millions of lives," but warned the promise it embodies is under strain as conflicts multiply and persecution continues. At the same time, international funding for refugee relief has fallen sharply. The United States, historically UNHCR's largest donor, has dramatically scaled back overseas aid following the return of President Donald Trump, and several other governments have tightened their budgets.
UNHCR said its funding dropped by roughly 35 percent last year, forcing the agency to eliminate nearly 5,000 posts in 2025 — more than a quarter of its workforce — undermining its capacity to respond to growing needs.
Call to Action
Speakers at the commemoration urged governments and the international community to move beyond short-term management of displacement toward policies that prevent forced displacement, protect asylum rights, and invest in durable solutions. They emphasized that sustaining the global protection framework will require renewed political will and predictable funding.
Reporter's note: The anniversary highlights both the lifesaving legacy of the 1951 convention and the urgent challenges facing the global refugee protection system today.
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