UNHCR warns asylum systems under strain on 75th anniversary of Refugee Convention

The 1951 Refugee Convention turned 75 on July 28, with 149 states now party to the treaty or its 1967 Protocol. UNHCR Director of International Protection and Solutions Elizabeth Tan said the convention remains the cornerstone of the global refugee‑protection system, stressing the core principle of non‑refoulement that bars returning people to persecution, torture or serious harm. She reported that about 41.6 million people are displaced worldwide, with roughly 70 percent hosted by low‑ and middle‑income countries, many of whom have lived in exile for five years or more.

Tan warned that the asylum system is under growing pressure, citing restrictive practices such as pushbacks, denied entry and forced returns. Funding for UNHCR has fallen to only about 31 percent of its required budget, leaving a shortfall of roughly US$1.3 billion. The agency called for renewed international cooperation and increased financial support to maintain essential services for refugees and host communities. Regional voices, such as Austria’s Diakonie and German media, echoed the call for upholding the convention’s guarantees and protecting human dignity amid rising geopolitical tensions.