Walking in Solidarity with Refugees is an Obligation for all People of Faith

Nearly seven in ten refugees and other people in need of international protection come from just five countries—Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine and Sudan. War and persecution have forced millions of people to abandon their homes, cities, professions, neighbourhoods—and with them, their dreams and aspirations. 

On this World Refugee Day, we are called not only to remember them with compassion and conviction, but also to walk in Solidarity with them, to recognize their humanity and inherent human dignity. We must give them names, faces, and stories—not just numbers that separate their lives, suffering, and dignity from those living in peace. Today, more than 123 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced by conflict, climate disasters, poverty, and violence. Each of these lives is sacred. Regardless of faith or origin, every person deserves dignity, safety, and hope. Each journey into exile is a testament to survival and resilience. For people of faith, walking with refugees is not just a moral obligation—it is a sacred duty.

The call to “welcome the other” resonates across all our religious traditions. As faith leaders and communities, we are bound by a moral and spiritual responsibility to protect those seeking refuge and to work towards establishing systems that combat the root causes of displacement. Religions for Peace stands in solidarity with refugees and all forcibly displaced persons. Our commitment is rooted in shared values of human dignity, compassion, and peace.

At our 9th World Assembly in 2013, we declared the religious imperative to “welcome the other.” Since then, we have extended our work through the establishment of the Multi-Religious Council of Leaders (MRCL) alongside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, we renewed our pledge to share responsibilities with host communities and to uphold the rights of all displaced peoples, especially women and youth.

Across the globe, we call on all members of our movement to this commitment of “Welcoming the Other”, to a rejection of the rhetoric of hate and prejudice and to a warm embrace of each and every person seeking shelter and refuge away from their homes. Let the milk of human kindness greet everyone that seeks a home away from home. Let us raise our voices on the root causes that drive people from their homes.  And let us restore peace and harmony in our troubled world.

Today, let us renew our collective commitment to justice for all forcibly displaced people. Let us welcome them into our religious communities as homes and sanctuaries. And let us work together to transform the systems that cause displacement—faithful to our mission to protect the sanctity of human life and to promote a shared, sacred flourishing for all.

To all those now forced away from their homes, we walk with you in solidarity.