Refugee Rights Are Human Rights
Refugee Rights Are Human Rights
122.6 million people displaced by war, violence and persecution. One story of courage and hope.
Behind every statistic are people – men, women, and children – whose stories deserve to be seen and heard.
Watch the film, feel their strength, and take action this International Human Rights Day.
"This film is an invitation. It asks the audience to step into someone else’s world. To feel what she feels, hear what she hears and see what she sees. It’s about perspective – about seeing the mother, daughter, or nurse before the label of a ‘refugee’. I would like the audience to walk away with a deeper understanding – not just of the struggles, but of the strength, resilience and hope that define these journeys."
From the Director’s Chair – An interview with Leve Kühl, the director of “Through My Eyes”
There’s a moment in “Through My Eyes”, the film by Leve Kühl, that lingers. It is not the perilous sea crossing or the suffocating confines of a detention center. It is Amira, our protagonist – a nurse – standing behind the walls of a hospital, embodying hope in a quiet smile.
For Leve, this story is not just a film; it is a challenge to rethink how we see the world. “Refugees aren’t just numbers or victims,” he says. “They’re people with strengths and stories. People who, given the chance, can enrich our societies.”
The film draws from countless real experiences – particularly those of women like Amira, who traverse unimaginable terrains, driven not just by desperation, but by hope.
“Hope isn’t something Amira stumbles upon,” Leve explains. “It’s what propels her – through loss, fear, and even hostility in places she thought would be safe.”
Yet, as Leve admits, hope alone doesn’t mend the harsh realities many refugees face. The film delicately balances the duality of resilience and hardship. It does not sugarcoat the struggles – the hostility, the years spent in limbo, the barriers to opportunity. “Striking that balance was the hardest part,” Leve confesses. “But Amira’s story needed to show she’s not defined by what she’s endured. She’s a nurse, someone who might save your life. She’s a person first, not a statistic.”
Leve’s aim is clear: to shift perspectives. “This isn’t about giving refugees a voice. They have voices. It’s about helping audiences like me – comfortable in their living rooms – see beyond the label of ‘refugee’. To see a person, someone with dreams and fears, just like us.”
A new survey by IPSOS and UNHCR’s Hope Away from Home campaign shows that 73% of adults worldwide - three-quarters of the global population - believe that people fleeing war or persecution should have the right to seek safety.
When you stand up for refugee rights, you join a powerful global community of millions who share your compassion and commitment to justice. Together, we are a movement for hope and humanity.
Real people, real stories
When you’re forced to flee your home and leave behind the life you built, how do you keep moving forward? What gives you hope? Some real people share their hope with us:
Abdul
“What gives me hope away from home is the possibility to start over, to rebuild a new life. It is possible to dream again. It is possible that I can achieve my goals, as today I can work here, study and do the things that give me hope.”
Maimouna
“The strength and potential within the people of Burkina Faso give me hope. I have always been a dreamer, I have always set myself very ambitious goals that I have never thought were unachievable.”
Jin
“What gives me hope is the idea that our shared hardships can inspire solutions that help others. My challenges could lead to something meaningful for others.”
UNHCR’s five key asks of States
The Hope Away from Home campaign establishes five key asks of States with support from UNHCR and partners, to amend policies and introduce new practices so that all people fleeing war, violence and persecution can find and live in safety, without discrimination.
UNHCR works with partners, civil society, corporate partners and field operations to advance policy change to bring a real and lasting change in how the world responds to the growing refugee crisis.
No one should have to pay with their lives or freedom to reach safety.
