As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched a global campaign called The Promise. The initiative calls on governments, organizations, and individuals to renew their commitment to protecting people forced to flee war, violence, and persecution.

Adopted in 1951 following the Second World War, the Refugee Convention established the legal foundation for refugee protection, including the principle that people fleeing persecution should not be returned to danger. UNHCR emphasizes that these principles remain crucial today as record levels of displacement strain humanitarian systems globally.

Currently, more than 41 million refugees remain displaced worldwide, with ongoing conflicts uprooting families and increasing pressure on asylum systems and host countries. Led by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, The Promise aims to build a broad coalition in support of refugee protection ahead of the Global Refugee Forum scheduled for 2027.

The campaign has attracted 75 initial signatories, including actor-humanitarians Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett, Ben Stiller, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. Refugee leaders, business figures, faith leaders, and human rights advocates have also joined the initiative. Together, they advocate for a world where refugees can seek safety, be welcomed into communities, and where governments act early to support host countries and pursue lasting solutions to displacement.

“Seventy-five years ago, the world made a promise to protect people forced to flee,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih. “Our responsibility now is to keep that promise alive, for all generations to come.”