At the end of 2023, more than 114 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced from their homes due to ethnic or religious persecution, political instability, armed conflict, human rights violations and environmental disasters. This means that close to 1.5 % of the global population has been forced to leave their homes. We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. The plight of refugees demands our attention and collective efforts to address the challenges they face.

Refugees encounter numerous challenges as they seek safety and a new beginning. These challenges include inadequate access to necessities such as food, water, shelter and limited healthcare and education opportunities. Additionally, refugees often face discrimination, xenophobia, and bureaucratic hurdles in host countries, making their integration into new societies a formidable task. The mental health toll of displacement is significant, with many refugees experiencing trauma, anxiety, and depression.

The global response to the refugee crisis has been a mix of compassion and challenges. International organizations, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and host countries, play a crucial role in providing humanitarian aid, protection, and resettlement opportunities. However, the sheer scale of the crisis often overwhelms existing resources, resulting in gaps in assistance and

A few facts about refugees:  

• High-income countries host just 24% of refugees: The wealthiest countries host just 24% of the world’s refugees. Poor, low and middle-income countries host the remaining 76%.
• There is an international agreement to protect refugees: 149 countries have agreed to provide them with protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention. This agreement was introduced following World War Two, when many people fled persecution and conflict in Europe.
• Seeking asylum is a universal human right: Refugees’ right to seek asylum in another country is included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, alongside the right to a fair trial and freedom of expression.

Impact on Individuals and Societies: The refugee crisis has profound implications for

individuals, families, and entire societies such as:

• Humanitarian Concerns: Refugees often face dire humanitarian conditions, including inadequate shelter, food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and exposure to violence and exploitation. Children are particularly vulnerable, with many experiencing trauma and disrupted education.
• Social and Economic Challenges: Hosting many refugees can strain local infrastructure and services, including healthcare, education, and housing. This can create tensions between host communities and refugees, exacerbating social divisions and xenophobia.
• Lost Opportunities: Displacement disrupts lives and livelihoods, depriving individuals of their homes, possessions, and means of income. Many refugees are unable to fulfil their potential or contribute to their host societies due to legal barriers, language barriers, and discrimination.

The 2018 Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) emerged from a recognition of several pressing reasons and challenges surrounding the issue of forced displacement:

Escalating Refugee Crisis: The global refugee population has been steadily increasing due to ongoing conflicts, persecution, and human rights violations in various parts of the world. This surge in numbers highlighted the urgent need for a more coordinated and effective response to protect and support refugees.

Strain on Host Countries: Many countries hosting large numbers of refugees faced significant economic, social, and environmental challenges due to the influx. Hosting refugees was often disproportionately borne by a few countries, leading to strains on their infrastructure, public services, and resources.

Lack of Burden-Sharing: There was a growing recognition of the need for greater burden-sharing and responsibility-sharing among states in responding to refugee crises. The existing system often unfairly burdens host countries, while other states must adequately contribute to refugee protection and support efforts.

Complexity of Refugee Crises: Refugee crises were becoming increasingly complex, with protracted displacement situations, mixed migration flows, and overlapping humanitarian, development, and security challenges. Addressing these complexities required a more comprehensive and integrated approach beyond traditional humanitarian responses.

Call for Sustainable Solutions: There was a growing recognition of the importance of pursuing sustainable solutions to refugee crises, including voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement. These solutions required addressing the immediate humanitarian needs of refugees, tackling the root causes of displacement, and promoting durable outcomes.

Need for International Cooperation: Addressing the global refugee crisis effectively necessitated enhanced international cooperation and collaboration. No single country or organization could address the complex challenges of forced displacement alone, highlighting the importance of multilateralism and collective action.

In light of these reasons and challenges, the advancement of the GCR was seen as a crucial step towards improving the international community’s response to refugee crises, enhancing protection for refugees, and promoting more equitable burden-sharing among states.

To date, the GCR stands as a pivotal document in the ongoing global discourse on refugee protection and migration management. Formulated under the auspices of the United Nations, this compact represents a concerted effort by the international community to address the multifaceted challenges posed by forced displacement. The GCR provides a blueprint for governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that host communities get the support they need and that refugees can lead productive lives.

Its four key objectives are to:

• Ease the pressures on host countries
• Enhance refugee self-reliance
• Expand access to third-country solutions
• Support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity

At its core, the GCR seeks to uphold the principles of international solidarity, burden-sharing, and responsibility-sharing in responding to refugee crises. By fostering a cooperative framework among states, international organizations, and other stakeholders, the compact aims to enhance the protection of refugees, support host countries, and promote durable solutions for displaced populations.

One of the key features of the compact is its emphasis on a comprehensive and holistic approach to refugee response. Rather than viewing refugees solely as beneficiaries of humanitarian aid, the compact recognizes their resilience, skills, and potential contributions to host communities. It underscores the importance of empowering refugees through access to education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and legal protection, thereby enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity and self-reliance.

Moreover, the compact underscores the significance of international cooperation in addressing the root causes of forced displacement. By promoting conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustainable development initiatives, the compact seeks to mitigate the drivers of displacement and create conditions conducive to voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement.

In 2019, the global community witnessed a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to address the challenges of forced displacement with the formation of the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) as a platform for dialogue, partnership, and action. The inaugural Global Refugee Forum, held in December 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland, marked a historic gathering of stakeholders committed to addressing the plight of refugees worldwide. With over 3,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, UN agencies, NGOs, and private sector representatives. The forum provided a unique opportunity to showcase innovative approaches, mobilize resources, and generate political will to support refugees and host communities. At the heart of the Global Refugee Forum were the pledges and commitments made by participating states and other stakeholders to enhance refugee protection, improve access to education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities, and strengthen the resilience of refugee-hosting areas. These pledges encompassed many initiatives, from expanding resettlement and humanitarian admission programs to investing in infrastructure development and economic integration efforts.

Moreover, the Global Refugee Forum served as a platform for showcasing best practices and innovative solutions in refugee response. The forum also highlighted the crucial role of refugees themselves as agents of change and contributors to their communities’ resilience and development.

Beyond the tangible outcomes and commitments, the Global Refugee Forum reaffirmed the international community's collective responsibility to uphold the rights and dignity of refugees. It underscored the importance of solidarity, compassion, and shared humanity in responding to one of our time's most pressing humanitarian challenges. Looking ahead, the forum provides a foundation for sustained engagement and collaboration, ensuring that the promises made in Geneva translate into meaningful action on the ground, transforming the lives of millions of refugees and their host communities worldwide.

The second GRF took place in Geneva during December 2023. The 2023 GRF was an important opportunity to build on the progress made by States and stakeholders towards the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and of pledges and initiatives announced since the first Forum in 2019.

The second GRF served as a pivotal platform for reiterating the paramount importance of education and the welfare of children and youth within refugee communities. The critical need of education during emergencies for refugees and displaced children and youth garnered significant attention during the forum, with much attention given to the need to minimize the time refugee children and youth spend out of learning and promote inclusion into national systems in the first phase after displacement. This emphasis not only reaffirmed the principles outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees but also underscored the critical role of education in fostering empowerment, resilience, and prospects for displaced populations.

As the war in Ukraine wages on, new conflicts continue to unfold, from Sudan through Eritrea and Ethiopia to Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, and the number of people seeking refuge outside of their home countries or displaced within is higher than ever. The conflict in Ukraine, which escalated following Russia's invasion in 2014, has resulted in

significant displacement, both internally and across international borders. As of 2023-2024, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, including Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia. The Ukraine crisis has added pressure to the existing refugee infrastructure in Europe and highlighted the need for coordinated responses to address the needs of both Ukrainian refugees and other displaced populations.

Europe has witnessed a significant influx of refugees in recent years, driven primarily by conflicts in the Middle East, such as the Syrian civil war, the Russian Ukraine war, as well as instability in regions like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Europe’s number of refugees and asylum seekers reached close to 15 million at the end of 2023, with countries like Germany, Poland and France receiving the highest numbers.

As of 2024, Germany remains one of the primary destinations for refugees seeking asylum in Europe. The country has a well-established system for receiving and processing asylum applications, protecting those fleeing persecution, conflict, and human rights violations in their home countries.

The integration of refugees into German society remains a complex and multifaceted process. Challenges include language barriers, access to education and employment, housing shortages, and social inclusion. Efforts to address these challenges are underway, with government initiatives, civil society organizations, and local communities working together to provide support and opportunities for refugees to rebuild their lives.

Despite ongoing efforts to facilitate integration, disparities and obstacles persist, particularly for vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied minors, women, and individuals with disabilities. Ensuring equal access to rights, services, and opportunities for all refugees remains a priority for policymakers and stakeholders in Germany.

Additionally, debates surrounding migration and asylum policies continue to shape public discourse and political dynamics in Germany. While there is widespread support for protecting refugees in need, there are also concerns about the capacity of the asylum system, the impact on social cohesion, and the integration of newcomers into German society.

In summary, the situation of refugees in Germany in 2024 is characterized by ongoing arrivals, integration efforts, and debates surrounding migration policies. While progress has been made in providing protection and support to refugees, challenges remain in ensuring the full inclusion and participation of refugees in German society.