Religions for Peace World Council Statement: On the Occasion of World Refugee Day – Every Action Counts

We, as leaders of the world’s religious and spiritual traditions: Indigenous Spirituality, Zoroastrian, Jain, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and Bahai, honor the World Refugee Day with our renewed commitment to advancing dignity for all, especially the need to actively care for the most vulnerable among us.

At this time of global pandemic, we are deeply concerned about the disproportionate impacts on the world’s most vulnerable populations. UNHCR estimates that 1 out of every 100 people in the world fled their homes, and every minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. Today, the number of forcibly displaced persons exceeds 79.5 million – more than the entire population of some countries.

These numbers are overwhelming – and it is important to remember that these represent real people whose lives have been torn apart, leaving their homes, family, jobs and schools behind.

Refugees often live in very high population-density conditions, that makes it extremely difficult to physically distance themselves. One out of every three refugees lives in refugee camps located in remote areas with limited health care facilties. We have also seen how refugees are contributing on the frontlines of the pandemic, despite living in extremely vulnerable conditions.

Our faiths call us to open our hearts and our communities to refugees. Our voices and our acts of welcome through our oldest and longest standing institutions and services, and in our homes and communities, are more critical than ever during this time of crisis. Because everyone can make a difference and every action counts.

We stress that using the pandemic as an excuse to increase xenophobia and stigmatization, and/or as an excuse for repressive policies for refugees and migrants, is wrong. Misinformation and divisive political rhetoric around refugees and migrants contributes to growing hostility and xenophobia.  We commit to overcoming such divisive rhetoric, as well as any discrimination and stigmatization amongst our own religious communities and institutions.

We also recognize that countless acts of compassion and solidarity towards refugees, including multi-religious actions, are taking place every day. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Religions for Peace’s national and regional Interreligious Councils are providing life-saving messages, supporting the most vulnerable, countering stigma and discrimination, and offering spiritual, psycho-social, primary healthcare, housing, education, as well as paying deliberate attention to the needs of children (including the girl child), women, the elderly, and those living with disabilities. Refugees with professional health and other skills have become involved in the response – there by becoming a part of the solutions to this crisis. These multi-religious efforts need to be intensified, supported, and taken into consideration to influence policy and shape local and national debates around refugee and migrant concerns.

We call on host governments and the international community to ensure that refugees have access to medical services and treatment – including psycho social care – without discrimination. Testing and services must be provided to everyone regardless of whether an individual is a national or a refugee.  As this pandemic has demonstrated, exclusion costs while inclusion pays. We also urge high-income countries to fund the now even more dire needs of refugees and migrants in low and middle income countries.

On World Refugee Day, Religions for Peace, through its 90 national and 6 regional affiliated Interreligious Councils/Platforms, and the Interfaith Youth and Women’s bodies, renews its committment to systematically engage with one another, and to serve the partnerships with UNHCR offices, in intensifying multi-religious advocacy and action for the protection and well-being of refugees. This is our moral imperative, because every action counts.