UN high commissioners urge governments to see refugees as contributors and warn EU migration rules may breach human‑re ​

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Sálih addressed governments on the eve of World Refugee Day, urging them not to view migrants merely as a burden. He said refugees "contribute daily to the communities that host them — as workers, students, neighbours, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs and leaders" and stressed the need for opportunities to rebuild dignified lives. Sálih repeated the UNHCR goal of halving the number of people living in prolonged displacement within ten years. The agency’s latest report notes about 42 million people worldwide have been forced to flee conflict, violence or persecution, with 5.4 million displaced in 2025 and 14.7 million returning home.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk criticised new EU migration legislation that allows the establishment of return centres outside the Union. He warned that transferring obligations to third‑party states risks violating the principle of non‑refoulement and could breach human‑rights standards, especially for vulnerable groups such as children. Türk called for strict monitoring, adherence to international law and a balanced approach that recognises migrants’ contributions to European societies while protecting their rights.