Safety and dignity must be assured for all | Samar Mazloum

Samar Mazloum is UNHCR Representative to Malta

Traditionally, World Refugee Day, taking place each year on 20 June, serves as a day to honour the courage, strength and contributions of the millions of people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes due to violence, war or persecution. This is also a day to remember the importance of welcoming newcomers who, having fled their country, bring with them their cultures, their unique experiences and their hope – all of which make any community stronger and more vibrant.   

The facts are sobering. The number of people forced to flee conflict, war, persecution and human rights abuses globally crossed the 100 million mark for the first time on record. This year alone, the war in Ukraine has displaced 7.1 million people within the country and more than 7.3 million have fled across the country’s borders. It is one among many refugee scenarios currently unfolding in the world.

Such displacement is more than just a mere move away from place to another, with all the attendant discomfort such a voyage implies. The perilous journey of fleeing from persecution is often merely the first step in a refugee’s trajectory from crisis to relative safety. Should they even be lucky enough to survive it, they will likely be burdened with trauma and face countless obstacles.

But if nothing else, the past few months have shown us that it does not necessarily have to be this way. With political will and solidarity, their journey does not have to result in misery and excessive hardship once they are out of the immediate danger zone in their country of origin.

It has in fact been encouraging to see the concerted effort on the part of the global community – particularly the European Union – to ensure that Ukrainian refugees find immediate respite and support. In Malta, we have witnessed a spontaneous demonstration of warmth and generosity through offers of free accommodation and donations, both in cash and kind, to assist the Ukrainians seeking safety in Malta as well as the displaced population within Ukraine. This is surely an expression of the humanitarian impulse and sense of solidarity steeped in the Maltese tradition of offering sanctuary to the persecuted.   

In fact, Malta’s early pledge to provide free oncology services to asylum-seekers from Ukraine speaks to a key principle of the Global Refugee Compact, which advocates for a “common but differentiated responsibility” when it comes to the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers by individual states. Malta’s commendable health care system being put at the forefront of the effort to safeguard Ukrainian lives is a clear illustration of how countries can pool in their individual strengths to make a difference.

Neither can we fail to acknowledge the swift and sensitive action by members of the Ukrainian community in Malta – who have come forward in this time of need to provide support to newcomers and serve as a crucial bridge between them and their new place of sanctuary on the island. They were further aided by the Malta Refugee Council – which is made up of human rights NGOs and members of various refugee communities, demonstrating a strong network of mutual support among refugee communities themselves.

If nothing else, the immediate solidarity shown to refugees from Ukraine should serve as a rallying call to governments and populations everywhere. When governments step forward to uphold their international obligations to protect refugees and when communities come together to join forces, we can in fact protect the forcibly displaced people and alleviate their suffering. We can assist them, empower them, help find solutions to their situation and build better futures for them as well the communities that host them.

In fact, the Refugee Convention – a key document which continues to guide our work ever since it was first drafted in 1951 – serves as a key reminder of how the historic effort to protect refugees in Europe gradually evolved to include refugees from all parts of the world.

Heartened by the solidarity shown to Ukrainians, we look forward to seeing the same mechanisms that enabled this groundswell of support extended to all people forced to undertake dangerous journeys far from home in search of basic existential security.

World Refugee Day is an opportunity to reinforce the fundamental humanitarian and legal principle that everyone has the right to seek asylum, or to seek protection from violence or persecution in a country other than their own. No one must ever be forced back to the country where their life or freedom would be at risk.

Personal safety and dignity should be assured for all people, everywhere. People must not face discrimination at the border or during the asylum process.

As ever, UNHCR stands ready to support Malta in improving and implementing procedures which would ensure the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers arriving to the island – no matter their race, religion or nationality, and no matter which social group they form a part of or the political opinions that they hold.

In other words, I will directly echo the theme for this year’s edition of World Refugee Day: Everyone has the right to seek asylum. Whoever they are. Wherever they come from. Whenever they need it.