UNHCR: A Call for Solidarity on World Refugee Day 2026

On World Refugee Day [20 June], we honor the courage, resilience and dignity of refugees around the world, including here in Malaysia. Forced to flee war, violence and persecution, refugees are not defined by what they have lost, but by their determination to rebuild their lives.

This year, under the theme Until Everyone is Safe, and as the world reflects on the importance of protecting everyone’s right to seek safety, we are reminded of a simple truth: for millions of people forced to flee, what they are searching for is hope away from home.

But hope cannot exist without solidarity.

At a time when forced displacement remains unacceptably high, solidarity means choosing facts over fear, humanity over division, and practical solutions over despair. It means recognizing that the right to seek safety belongs to everyone, and that none of us is truly safe until everyone is safe.

Today, that choice matters here in Malaysia.

In recent weeks, public discussions about refugees in Malaysia have become increasingly strained, with misinformation and harmful language adding to fear and misunderstanding, including for communities already facing heightened public scrutiny.

In moments like this, it is important that public conversations are guided by facts, dignity and respect. Because words shared online can have real consequences for real people.

Refugees do not choose to leave their country. They seek safety from persecution and violence. Like anyone else, they want to live in peace and take care of their family. Refugees are here because they had no other safe option, and because the search for safety is a human one.

When given the opportunity, refugees contribute to communities, to local economies, and to the social fabric of the countries that host them.

Malaysia has long demonstrated compassion towards those in need. That spirit remains strong. But it must be actively protected, especially at a time when misinformation risks eroding trust and understanding. Solidarity does not mean ignoring challenges. It means addressing them with facts and a commitment to solutions that uphold human dignity.

Recent global data reminds us that solutions are possible but must be pursued responsibly. In 2025, global forced displacement fell for the first time in a decade, as nearly 4.4 million refugees returned to their countries of origin. Yet many returned under pressure and to fragile conditions, underscoring that repatriation is only a real solution when it is voluntary, safe and dignified.

With 70 per cent of refugees still living in long-term displacement, UNHCR is calling for renewed efforts to expand education, jobs and other pathways that help refugees rebuild their lives, reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance and create opportunities for refugees to contribute wherever they are. Becoming a refugee is not a choice. But how we respond is, and our response must be guided by the shared commitment that everyone deserves safety.

In Malaysia, solidarity is not abstract. It is delivered each day by partners who keep doors open, services running, and hope within reach.

Across the country, civil society, the private sector, and community-based organizations continue to demonstrate steady commitment in supporting refugees, often stepping in to bridge critical gaps in access to education, health care and protection. Their practical solidarity, delivered daily through services, partnerships and local initiatives, remains essential to sustaining the worth of those forced to flee their homes.

On this World Refugee Day, UNHCR calls on everyone to help build a more informed and respectful public conversation: to choose facts over rumors, to avoid sharing unverified claims, and to speak up for dignity and respect.

Above all, let us remember that behind every headline is a human being – a mother, a father, a child – who has already lost so much. Solidarity begins when we see refugees not as ‘others’, but as people like us.

If we want refugees to find hope away from home, then we must build societies where that hope is possible.

Today, we reaffirm a simple message: You are not alone. You are not forgotten.

And together, we can ensure that Malaysia remains a place where humanity prevails over division.