World Refugee Day observed annually on June 20, celebrates the strength and courage of people forced to flee their home countries to escape conflict or persecution. Established by the United Nations in 2001 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, this day highlights both refugee rights and states' obligations to protect them.
The Scale of Global Displacement tells a sobering story of our times. More than 120 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide by May 2024 due to persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. Perhaps most alarming, the number of displaced children more than doubled between 2010 and 2023, rising from 18.8 million to the current number of 47.2 million.
World Refugee Day 2025 calls for global solidarity with refugees, honouring their individual stories of courage, loss, and hope. Behind these overwhelming statistics are real people who deserve empathy, understanding, and unwavering support from the international community.
To access case studies on refugees you can search the use platform database by SDG 10, or topic: Migration and refugees.