US Court upholds right to seek asylum
29/4/2026: The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has overturned the government’s refusal to allow migrants who arrive at the southern border the right to seek asylum. The ruling stops summary deportations prompted by President Trump’s proclamation of an “invasion” at the US-Mexico border.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Year of action for 75th Anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention
13/4/2026: Throughout 2026 the UN Refugee Agency is embarking on a series of national, regional, and global dialogues to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. These dialogues come as the global asylum system faces unprecedented pressure, making the fundamental principles of the Convention more vital than ever.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
Guterres slams international failure to manage safe migration
27/2/2026: The UN's update on the 2018 Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration finds that in 2024 an estimated 304 million people were migrants, or 3.7 per cent of the world’s population. The UN Secretary-General emphasised that no country can manage migration alone, especially as the international community confronts challenges such as climate change and demographic transition.
Source: UN News
New EU rules undermine the foundation of refugee protection
18/12/2025: The European Parliament and Council have agreed rules which will make it easier for member states to reject asylum applications, on grounds that the country of origin is "safe". The new EU list of safe countries of origin includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco and Tunisia.
Source: Amnesty International
Forced returns to Afghanistan must end
16/12/2025: Latest UN figures reveal that Iran and Pakistan have unlawfully forced more than 2.6 million migrants to return to Afghanistan this year. The figures come as the Taliban intensify their attacks on human rights, particularly on women and girls. International law prohibits the forcible return of anyone to a place where they face a real risk of human rights violations.
Source: Amnesty International
Historic return of displaced Syrians presents opportunity and urgent challenges
8/12/2025: According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 1.2 million Syrians have voluntarily returned from neighbouring countries in the year since the fall of the Assad regime. Approximately 4.5 million Syrian refugees remain in neighbouring countries, most living below the poverty line.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
Uganda stops granting refugee status for Eritreans, Somalis and Ethiopians
4/12/2025: Citing severe funding shortfalls, Uganda has announced that it will no longer grant refugee status to new arrivals from countries “not experiencing war”. This will impact on Uganda's progressive migration policies which have taken account of forced conscription, political and religious persecution.
Source: The Guardian
Myanmar is safe?
24/11/2025: Almost 4,000 people from Myanmar now in the US may become subject to deportation to a country wracked by atrocities and targeted ethnic violence, including crimes against humanity. The Trump administration has terminated the Temporary Protective Status for people from Myanmar.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Think twice before copying Denmark’s asylum policies
14/11/2025: The British government has recently announced its plan to emulate Denmark’s asylum and immigration system. Denmark has become a pioneer in restrictive immigration policies but this has come with serious legal, ethical and moral challenges.
Source: The Conversation
Conflict and climate change displace millions in Sahel region
10/10/2025: Nearly four million people across Africa’s vast semi-arid Sahel region have been uprooted by a volatile mix of conflict, hunger and climate change. The UN Refugee Agency reports that entire communities have been emptied in Burkina Faso, northern Mali and western Niger as violence spreads.
Source: UN News