UNHCR marks 75 years of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees with renewed action on protection and inclusion

NAIROBI - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today convened a High-Level Dialogue to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Held at the Mövenpick Hotel in Nairobi, the dialogue brought together Government institutions, refugee-led organisations, host-community representatives, development and humanitarian partners, civil society, academia, the private sector and the United Nations.

The event took place as UNHCR globally launched The Promise, a statement of solidarity bringing together 75 prominent voices from across society to reaffirm support for refugees and the right to seek safety. The initiative seeks to build a broader coalition for refugee protection in the lead-up to the Global Refugee Forum in 2027.

For 75 years, the Refugee Convention has provided the international legal framework that enables people fleeing conflict, violence and persecution to seek protection, exercise their rights and pursue solutions. Its principles remain as relevant today as when the Convention was adopted.

Kenya has provided protection to millions of refugees from across the region over several decades, while continuing to strengthen its national legal and policy framework. The Refugees Act, 2021 and the government-owned, government-led Shirika Plan demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to advancing protection, inclusion, self-reliance and durable solutions.

Discussions focused on strengthening partnerships for protection and expanding inclusion in national and county systems so that refugees and host communities can access stronger services and economic opportunities.

“The Refugee Convention is not a relic of 1951. It is a principle of the civilized world that provides protection for people fleeing conflict or persecution. Kenya has carried that promise for decades. The task now is to protect access to asylum; turn inclusion into practical opportunity and ensure Kenya does not carry this responsibility alone.” Robin Ellis, UNHCR Kenya deputy representative.

“Refugees must be part of the decisions that shape our lives. Meaningful Refugee participation must be seen as a tool and means of enabling refugees being co-creators of solutions and hence means being involved in sustainable engagement in policy design, implementation and evaluation through our lived experience and expertise.” Jean Marie Ishimwe, East Africa Regional Lead, R-SEAT (Refugees Seeking Equal access at the Table)

Refugee-led organisations are increasingly contributing to policy dialogue, service delivery, community engagement and solutions-oriented programming.
The dialogue also recognised that inclusion cannot replace protection or life-saving assistance. With humanitarian resources under pressure, participants called for predictable financing to sustain essential services and invest in national and county systems, infrastructure, livelihoods and local economies. .

The anniversary is not only an opportunity to reflect on the Convention’s legacy. It should serve as a platform for renewed commitments and practical follow-up towards the Agenda for the Future of Protection and Solutions and the Global Refugee Forum in 2027.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Charity Nzomo [email protected]

Takeshi Moriyama [email protected]

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