Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471185
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JUNE 2022 13 OPINION Safety and dignity must be assured for all TRADITIONALLY, World Refugee Day, taking place each year on 20 June, serves as a day to honour the courage, strength and contributions of the millions of people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes due to violence, war or persecution. This is also a day to remember the importance of welcoming newcomers who, having fled their country, bring with them their cultures, their unique experiences and their hope – all of which make any community stronger and more vibrant. The facts are sobering. The number of people forced to flee conflict, war, persecution and human rights abuses globally crossed the 100 million mark for the first time on record. This year alone, the war in Ukraine has dis- placed 7.1 million people within the country and more than 7.3 million have fled across the coun- try's borders. It is one among many refugee scenarios currently unfolding in the world. Such displacement is more than just a mere move away from place to another, with all the at- tendant discomfort such a voyage implies. The perilous journey of fleeing from persecution is often merely the first step in a refugee's trajectory from crisis to relative safety. Should they even be lucky enough to survive it, they will likely be burdened with trauma and face countless obstacles. But if nothing else, the past few months have shown us that it does not necessarily have to be this way. With political will and solidarity, their journey does not have to result in misery and ex- cessive hardship once they are out of the immediate danger zone in their country of origin. It has in fact been encouraging to see the concerted effort on the part of the global commu- nity – particularly the European Union – to ensure that Ukrainian refugees find immediate respite and support. In Malta, we have witnessed a spontaneous demon- stration of warmth and gener- osity through offers of free ac- commodation and donations, both in cash and kind, to assist the Ukrainians seeking safety in Malta as well as the displaced population within Ukraine. This is surely an expression of the hu- manitarian impulse and sense of solidarity steeped in the Maltese tradition of offering sanctuary to the persecuted. In fact, Malta's early pledge to provide free oncology services to asylum-seekers from Ukraine speaks to a key principle of the Global Refugee Compact, which advocates for a "common but dif- ferentiated responsibility" when it comes to the protection of refu- gees and asylum-seekers by indi- vidual states. Malta's commend- able health care system being put at the forefront of the effort to safeguard Ukrainian lives is a clear illustration of how coun- tries can pool in their individual strengths to make a difference. Neither can we fail to acknowl- edge the swift and sensitive ac- tion by members of the Ukrainian community in Malta – who have come forward in this time of need to provide support to newcomers and serve as a crucial bridge be- tween them and their new place of sanctuary on the island. They were further aided by the Mal- ta Refugee Council – which is made up of human rights NGOs and members of various refugee communities, demonstrating a strong network of mutual sup- port among refugee communities themselves. If nothing else, the immediate solidarity shown to refugees from Ukraine should serve as a rallying call to governments and popu- lations everywhere. When gov- ernments step forward to uphold their international obligations to protect refugees and when com- munities come together to join forces, we can in fact protect the forcibly displaced people and al- leviate their suffering. We can assist them, empower them, help find solutions to their situation and build better futures for them as well the communities that host them. In fact, the Refugee Conven- tion – a key document which continues to guide our work ever since it was first drafted in 1951 – serves as a key reminder of how the historic effort to protect refu- gees in Europe gradually evolved to include refugees from all parts of the world. Heartened by the solidarity shown to Ukrainians, we look forward to seeing the same mechanisms that enabled this groundswell of support extend- ed to all people forced to under- take dangerous journeys far from home in search of basic existen- tial security. World Refugee Day is an op- portunity to reinforce the funda- mental humanitarian and legal principle that everyone has the right to seek asylum, or to seek protection from violence or per- secution in a country other than their own. No one must ever be forced back to the country where their life or freedom would be at risk. Personal safety and dignity should be assured for all people, everywhere. People must not face discrimination at the border or during the asylum process. As ever, UNHCR stands ready to support Malta in improving and implementing procedures which would ensure the protec- tion of refugees and asylum-seek- ers arriving to the island – no matter their race, religion or na- tionality, and no matter which social group they form a part of or the political opinions that they hold. In other words, I will direct- ly echo the theme for this year's edition of World Refugee Day: Everyone has the right to seek asylum. Whoever they are. Wher- ever they come from. Whenever they need it. Samar Mazloum is UNHCR Malta Representative Samar Mazloum "As ever, UNHCR stands ready to support Malta in adopting and implementing procedures which would ensure the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers arriving to the island" UNHCR staff meet refugees from Ukraine on buses at the Fernetti border crossing from Slovenia into Italy (3 March 2022) © UNHCR/Dario Bosio