Actors Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett, along with Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, are among public figures calling for refugee protections to be upheld as the United Nations decries mounting pressure on asylum systems.
Refugee Protections Under Pressure
Legal safeguards for refugees are enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention, drafted in the aftermath of World War Two, which displaced tens of millions of people. However, many governments are tightening border controls amid near-record displacement worldwide as conflicts proliferate.
The U.N. refugee agency issued a statement of support for the convention, called “The Promise”, signed by dozens of celebrities, athletes, business leaders, and faith leaders. High Commissioner Barham Salih, a former Iraqi president and refugee, said the convention had saved millions of lives.
Compounding the challenges facing refugees, the United States — formerly the top donor to the U.N. refugee agency, which oversees implementation of the convention — has recently considered severing ties with the organisation.
Rights groups are concerned about growing asylum curbs, such as the European Union’s plans for detention centres abroad and U.S. President Donald Trump’s restrictions on refugee admissions.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
