Why I should get involved
Since UNHCR was first established in 1950, much has changed in the world and in the work we do. While the 1951 Refugee Convention remains a powerful international agreement and is the foundation for all we do – the circumstances that cause human displacement have evolved dramatically in the last 60 years.
Sadly, the causes of forced displacement have not gone away and today’s chronic conflicts are a cause for special concern: What we see is that as new conflicts flare old ones are left unresolved. This leads to new displacement on the one hand and millions of people being prevented from returning home on the other. Fewer than 200,000 refugees went home in 2010, the lowest number in 20 years. With few options these uprooted people will languish in camps or in urban shantytowns. Today more than seven million refugees live in so-called protracted situations – living their lives in a virtual limbo. It’s a situation that can lead to desperation and a search for an escape, even if it means risking their lives.
UNHCR believes that there is no acceptable degree of mistreatment or tolerable levels of suffering. We believe all forcibly displaced people must be allowed to live and work freely in safety and dignity as they re-establish their place in the world.
It is our hope that this campaign will awaken a shared humanity in people by encouraging everyone to think about the individual refugee story, to learn more about refugees, and to show your support. By Doing 1 Thing you can help humanise an issue that is too often reduced to numbers.
In difficult economic times 1 thing everyone can do which doesn’t cost a single cent is to show interest in others, learn, and share your new knowledge and interest.
do 1 thing campaign overview