Protecting and Empowering Refugees around the World

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF), an NGO in general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, stands in solidarity with the global community in observing World Refugee Day 2025. On this important day, we reaffirm our commitment to all those who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution, or natural disaster.

This year’s theme, “Solidarity with Refugees,” issued by UNHCR, reminds us that compassion is not merely an ideal; it must be expressed through concrete action. Solidarity means ensuring that refugees are not only protected but also empowered to rebuild their lives with dignity. It also means equipping host communities with the resources and resilience to embrace those in need.

In the context of Refugee Week (June 16–22) and its 2025 theme, “Community as a Superpower,” UPF encourages Ambassadors for Peace and our partners worldwide to engage in community-based initiatives that foster inclusion and mutual respect. We believe that by recognizing our shared humanity, we can build bridges across differences.

Since its founding, UPF has been dedicated to supporting forcibly displaced persons through humanitarian aid, education, and peacebuilding initiatives in every region of the world. These actions reflect our guiding principle that peace begins with practical service and sincere concern for others.

While the arrival of refugees may at first seem to strain resources, history shows that they often bring resilience, skills, and cultural richness to their new communities. As former Uruguayan President José Mujica once said, welcoming refugees is a moral duty, and “a society that abandons its refugees abandons its own humanity.”

At the same time, we must not lose sight of the root causes of displacement – conflict, poverty, environmental degradation, and political instability. True peace requires addressing these drivers so that no one is forced to flee their homeland, and those who do can one day return home in safety and hope.

Through education, interfaith cooperation, and inclusive policy-making, we can help displaced individuals not only survive, but thrive. Refugees are not a burden; they are vital contributors to the fabric of our shared future.

On this World Refugee Day, we call on leaders, civil society, and citizens around the world to protect and uplift those seeking refuge. Let us greet them not with indifference, but with welcome. Let us respond not with fear, but with hope.

May we move forward with clarity of purpose and unity of heart, so that every person forced to flee finds not only safety but a place to belong.

This vision is inspired by the enduring legacy of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, co-founder of the Universal Peace Federation, whose life has been dedicated to building a world of peace, compassion, and unity for all people, regardless of nationality, race, or religion.

Dr. Tageldin Hamad President, Universal Peace Federation International June 19, 2025