UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s Post

I had the honor of briefly meeting Filippo Grandi in 2015 at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency at the West Bank Field Office in Jerusalem. He speaks truth to power. I believe there’s so much disinformation about the authority (or lack thereof) that officials like him hold. He’s tasked with a limited mandate that demotes him to that of a lobbiest. He can only argue for, beg, and plead with world leaders of nation states to have virtue, values, and morality. He cannot force them. He must watch in sheer terror as these leaders allow for, instigate, and prosper from mass violence, exploitation, and human suffering. I do not envie those who choose to stay in these roles. Many say that he should resign and criticize those like him working in these roles. If he leaves then there’s the risk someone will come in who will not speak truth to power, a push over replacement, who will not challenge authority. He’s doing what he can with the limited authority he has been given and I’m proud of him. We cannot stop highlighting the hypocrisy. We must illuminate the experiences of those who have no voice. It’s the people of the nations who hold seats as the permanent members of the UN Security Council who must hold their leaders accountable. There’s a global stage and leaders are making decisions on behalf of their citizens who are left in the dark. It’s the toughest job in the world but it has to be done.

Save the world

MERHROM urges the United Nations Security Council, super power countries, the international community and ASEAN to immediately take appropriate measures to end genocidal attacks against the remaining minority Rohingya in Buthidaung Township. We would like to remind that the impact of massive genocidal attacks against the Rohingya in 2012, 2016 and 2017 are permanent until now. The Rohingya in Sittwe continue their live imprisonment in IDP camps since 2012. Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh continue living in dire refugee camps without basic needs and without security and safety which forced them to flee again. The Rohingya genocide survivors died silently in refugee camps and in the ocean while saving their life. Uncounted numbers died in the hands of human traffickers. Where else the Rohingya should seek safety? What is actually going on between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army which sacrifice the lives of Rohingya the most. Why did the Rohingya become the target by both parties during their war? Obviously, both the military and AA purposely expelled the Rohingya to leave their homeland. Where will they go? Living in dire situations as internally displaced persons without food, water and basic needs will force them to die soon. We are talking about more than 260,000 Rohingya who were affected by the attacks. We are worried as the rainy season is approaching soon in June. What will be the fate of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya without shelter, food, water, treatment and other basic needs? This is not conflict nor violence. This is not atrocities or ethnic cleansing but it is obviously Genocide. We urge everyone to use the correct terminology and help us to end the genocide. Both the Myanmar Military and Arakan Army committed Genocide against Rohingya and must be held accountable. We have received information from the Rohingya in Rakhine State from time to time on the situation on the ground including who is attacking them. The United Nations and the superpower countries must work towards ending the war, conflict & genocide around the world rather than looking for more resources to cope with the increased numbers of refugees. We urge the United Nations Security Council and United Nations Human Rights Council for an urgent action. Sending UN peacekeeping force to Rakhine State to protect the civilian and to monitor the situation on the ground, Sending immediate humanitarian assistance for the affected Rohingya. We urge all UN member states to protect Rohingya Genocide Survivors as we all have the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). Timely interventions and international response to the affected Rohingya is very crucial during this time. Delayed actions only sacrifice more lives than ever.The military and AA must be held accountable for the genocide without further delay. The ICJ and ICC process must be ongoing in whatever situation in order to deliver justice to the victims of Rohingya Genocide.

I want to highlight a crucial message shared by the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency Commissioner during the latest Security Council briefing 🇺🇳. The Commissioner reflected on the worsening global peace and security challenges and the urgent need for political solutions. Humanitarians are nearing breaking point as crises intensify. The number of individuals forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, and persecution has surged to 114 million... The reasons for this escalation are multifaceted, often tied to geopolitics. However, a significant immediate factor is the rampant non-compliance with international humanitarian law. Conflict parties have increasingly abandoned the basic rules of war. Civilians are being killed, sexual violence is used as a weapon, infrastructure (schools, hospitals, refugee camps, etc.) are destroyed, and humanitarian workers are targeted. Never before have so many journalists and humanitarian personnel been killed. This alarming trend highlights the increasing dangers faced by those who strive to bring truth and aid to conflict zones. Their safety is paramount, and their protection must be a priority. This grim reality is evident in regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo 🇨🇩, Soudan 🇸🇩, Gaza Strip 🇵🇸, Ukraine 🇺🇦, Yemen 🇾🇪, Myanmar 🇲🇲, and beyond. Addressing these issues requires more than just talk. It demands actionable political solutions and a renewed commitment to respecting humanitarian laws. We must prioritize finding these solutions and work together to alleviate the suffering of millions. #UNHCR #SecurityCouncil #ForcedDisplacement #GlobalPeace #HumanRights #HumanitarianLaws #PoliticalSolutions #DRC #Sudan #Gaza #Myanmar #Ukraine #Yemen

The first step is to stop those who foment war through corruption and by selling weapons. We all know who has the money and the arms industry to do both: They are the countries that have the most power even within the UN agencies, so who is going to stop them?

How can Restorative Justice be used to respond to the injustices and harms experienced by refugees and asylum seekers? In our latest blog, Dr Steve Kirkwood shares his research findings. https://lnkd.in/eyvFA4Qm

Fed up with hostile anti-refugee policies? 🤔 Arm yourself with these key questions for your future MP and join us to secure real change for refugees! ✊Download our toolkit for more tips on influencing candidates and share to help others join the fight: http://rb.gy/mqznjk

STATEMENT: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC calls for humane implementation of the European Pact on Asylum and Migration Following approval by European Parliament of the #MigrationPact the focus shifts to implementation. "The IFRC has concerns. The Pact focuses on the normalization of detention and speedier processes at borders. Both are worrying. Detention damages people. Quick decisions can risk returning people who should be granted asylum. In the Pact’s implementation, EU countries must ensure the systemic use of detention is avoided at all costs, and that individuals are always treated as individuals". Read full statement: 🔗 https://shorturl.at/itJKP 

It is always exciting to note new strides in post-conflict reconstruction within the continent. Hopefully, this process will be inclusive of the youth, women, children, people living with disabilities and other vulnerable and significantly marginalised people. 🥂Here is to peace and a successful implementation. #Yorja4transitionaljustice #youth4TJ #Transitionaljusticeforpeace

Just sharing the third of a series of three #Notes concerning #Refugees in Ireland, the EU and Worldwide, which I recently prepared as a Senior Parliamentary Researcher at the #Oireachtas Library and Research Service. This Note:  ·      introduces the Common European Asylum System;  ·      discusses the increase in the number of individuals seeking international protection in the EU territory since the early 2010s and considers the EU’s response to this development;  ·      outlines the legal obligation to assist and rescue persons found in distress at sea under international law and EU law; and ·      examines recent legal and policy developments at the EU level concerning asylum seekers and migrants, including the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. The Note was finalised before the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Parliament announced on 20 December 2023 that it had reached a deal on the core elements of the five key regulations, which form the heart of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. Whilst welcomed by many EU officials, the deal attracted criticism from multiple human rights groups, including Amnesty, Oxfam, Caritas and Save the Children. The other Notes in the series: ·      examine the protections afforded to refugees under international law and discuss the global context [Note 1]; and  ·      provide an overview of the legal and policy framework governing the treatment of refugees in Ireland [Note 2].