Asylum system faces unprecedented threats worldwide

On the 75th anniversary of the U.N. Refugee Convention, the U.N. refugee agency sounded an alarm regarding the increasing danger to the global convention on refugees and asylum-seekers, particularly in countries of the Global North, including the United States and numerous European nations. The assistant high commissioner for protection at UNHCR, Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, made it clear during a virtual briefing from Geneva that governments across the globe, particularly in more affluent nations, are undermining the asylum system. These actions could jeopardize the very existence of this fundamental international framework designed to protect those fleeing persecution and conflict. Many countries have opted to suspend asylum applications, effectively blocking requests for international protection from individuals who are fleeing dire circumstances, including war or persecution based on religion, race, nationality, sexuality, or political beliefs. This trend has been particularly noticeable in governments that have tightened restrictions, such as during the Trump administration in the United States and certain European countries, which have aimed to strike bilateral agreements with third nations to deport migrants and shift the responsibility of handling asylum seekers away from their territories. Menikdiwela emphasized that asylum applications face greater risks in nations that possess the means and stability to accommodate refugees than in those that currently host a significant number of refugees. For instance, Greece has temporally halted asylum processing due to a surge in arrivals of refugees on the island of Crete. Meanwhile, a humanitarian crisis looms as more than 122 million individuals displaced by conflict and persecution struggle under the weight of a global funding shortage, disallowed from seeking refuge where it is available. Despite the continuous headlines surrounding refugee arrivals in wealthier nations, data reveals that approximately 75% of the world's 43 million refugees are currently residing in low to middle-income countries. As an illustration of this global crisis, Chad has been accepting over 1.5 million refugees, primarily from Sudan, who are escaping the ongoing civil conflict there. Menikdiwela, having recently visited a refugee camp in Chad, described the dire situations in which many individuals find themselves, including significant health issues and violence against women and girls, highlighting the agency's critical but severely underfunded programs designed to meet their urgent needs. She asserted that the success in providing safety for these individuals is largely due to Chad's willingness to respect international principles laid out in the refugee convention. If these needs remain unmet, Menikdiwela warned, many refugees would be left with no choice but to migrate north toward Libya and eventually Europe in search for safety and better conditions, further exacerbating the ongoing crisis. Despite acknowledging instances where individuals may misuse the asylum system for economic gain rather than escaping true danger, Menikdiwela highlighted the desperate conditions many face. She mentioned an increasing trend toward establishing return hubs, a term increasingly used to refer to deportation centers, which has gained traction in policies across the United States and Europe. The UNHCR’s message calls for urgently needed action from global leaders to amend this growing crisis and ensure that refugees receive the protection and support they deserve.