World Refugee Day 2025: ARRA Says Global Inaction Endangers Refugees, Calls for Immediate Support and Policy Reform
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As nations around the world mark World Refugee Day 2025, the Asylum and Refugee Rights Advocacy Foundation (ARRA) has issued a powerful call to action, warning that global inaction and indifference are endangering the lives and futures of millions of forcibly displaced people.
In a statement released on Friday, June 20, to commemorate the annual observance under the United Nations theme “Solidarity with Refugees,” ARRA described the current refugee crisis as a “global emergency” that demands more than expressions of sympathy. With more than 120 million people displaced globally due to conflict, persecution, and climate disasters, the Foundation stressed that only bold, coordinated, and compassionate action can prevent further humanitarian collapse.
Signed by Dr. Okey James Ezugwu, a retired Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration and the Executive Director of ARRA, the statement criticized the persistent failure of many states to meet international refugee obligations, despite being parties to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
“Refugees are not a crisis—they are a consequence of crises. They are not burdens but survivors, deserving of protection, dignity, and opportunity,” Dr. Ezugwu said. “The world cannot afford the luxury of rhetorical solidarity. Refugees need real commitments—legal, political, financial, and humanitarian.”
ARRA expressed deep concern over the rise in xenophobic rhetoric, forced deportations, border militarization, and indefinite detention of asylum seekers in many parts of the world. The Foundation described these actions as violations of international law and a betrayal of shared human values.
According to the statement, many refugees languish in overcrowded camps, unsafe shelters, and hostile environments where they face not only hunger and insecurity but also systemic neglect and discrimination.
“Solidarity must be more than a word. It must be a plan, a policy, and a practice. Governments must urgently provide access to healthcare, education, legal protection, and safe housing for refugees,” the ARRA Executive Director emphasized.
ARRA called on governments, civil society actors, humanitarian agencies, and individuals to commit to long-term solutions that address both the immediate needs of displaced persons and the root causes of displacement—ranging from armed conflict and political instability to climate change and economic exclusion.
In Nigeria and across Africa, ARRA reaffirmed its continued commitment to delivering free legal services, asylum representation, and policy advocacy on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers. The organization pledged to deepen its collaborations with both local and international partners in the fight for more humane, inclusive, and rights-based migration policies.
“We cannot claim to uphold human rights while turning our backs on those who need them the most,” Dr. Ezugwu said. “The time for talk has passed. What refugees need today is protection, justice, and a path to recovery. That requires courage, compassion, and reform.”
The Foundation urged policymakers to prioritize refugee protection frameworks, increase funding for humanitarian support systems, and stop using asylum seekers as political scapegoats. It also called on the public to use their voices, votes, and influence to demand more ethical and inclusive policies from their leaders.
In a world increasingly marked by displacement, ARRA’s message on World Refugee Day 2025 is clear: Solidarity is not an act of charity—it is a matter of justice. And justice for refugees cannot wait.
