African states collude with US to endanger refugees
3/7/2026: The Trump administration has sent over 200 asylum-seekers to at least 10 African states under various third-country transfer agreements – often in exchange for money. Many are then forced to return to their countries of origin, regardless of concern for safety.
Source: African Arguments
Call for EU to review Tunisia agreement on migrants
26/6/2026: Three years after the signing of the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding on migrant workers, a group of human rights organisations has written to the President of the European Union, questioning flaws in its implementation. They point to the authoritarian drift in Tunisia, while failing to ensure that refugee and migrants’ rights are fully respected.
Source: Human Rights Watch
UN call to expand refugee resettlement lifeline
16/6/2026: In 2025, approximately 37,000 refugees departed to a new country through the UN's global resettlement programme, down significantly from more than 116,000 in 2024 and only a fraction of over two million refugees seeking a new home. An urgent expansion of refugee resettlement is needed.
Source: UN Refugee Agency
Global refugee numbers declined in 2025
11/6/2026: The UN Refugee Agency's annual Global Trends Report shows that global refugee numbers declined in 2025 by 3 per cent to 41.6 million. This is the first reduction in a decade. The largest hosts of refugees and other people in need of international protection in 2025 were Colombia, Germany and Türkiye.
Source: The UN Refugee Agency
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