GENEVA — The United Nations refugee agency marked the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention on July 28, 2026. More than 41 million refugees remain forcibly displaced globally as the international community assessed the treaty's impact seven and a half decades after its creation.

The 1951 Refugee Convention was established after World War II to assist people fleeing war, violence, and persecution. Nearly 150 countries are parties to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 protocol. The core principle of the 1951 Refugee Convention is non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to places where they face persecution, torture, or serious harm.

Elizabeth Tan, director of international protection and solutions, described the historical significance of the agreement. "It codified a simple but powerful principle that people forced to flee persecution, conflict or violence must be able to find safety and protection," Tan said.

The anniversary observance highlighted the gap between legal frameworks and the conditions faced by displaced populations. The International Committee of the Red Cross counts more than 130 armed conflicts globally. Nearly 70% of forcibly displaced refugees are hosted by low- and middle-income countries.

Some major host nations operate outside the convention's legal structure. Bangladesh is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 protocol. Sayed Alom is one of approximately 700,000 Rohingya who fled Myanmar to Bangladesh in 2017. He resides in refugee camps outside Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

Alom, a humanitarian aid worker, described the violence that drove his community from their homes. "We were persecuted until we could no longer live there," Alom said. He cited extreme atrocities committed by military forces. Alom said that Myanmar’s military forces raped their mothers and sisters, burned down their homes, threw their children into the river and set them on fire.

Other refugees have navigated different paths through resettlement programs. Juan Carlos Arce fled Nicaragua on foot in 2018 following a government crackdown on protesters. Arce, a human rights lawyer, was granted asylum in Costa Rica after fleeing Nicaragua. He moved to Barcelona, Spain, last year under a resettlement program organized by UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration.

Arce emphasized the value of security gained through these protections. "Feeling safe and protected, that is priceless," Arce said.

High-profile advocates also marked the anniversary with new appointments. Wenyen Gabriel became a UNHCR goodwill ambassador on July 27, 2026. Gabriel was born in Khartoum, Sudan, in 1997 after his parents fled civil war in southern Sudan. He was resettled in New Hampshire, United States, at age 2.

Gabriel played for South Sudan in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. He reflected on the difficulties of integration for those arriving in new countries. "It’s not easy to make something of yourself in a foreign country," Gabriel said. "We had to struggle and figure out how to become something inside of the United States."

Earlier generations of refugees also relied on personal resilience rather than formal policy alone. Hershel Greenblat was born in 1941 in Ukraine while his family hid from Nazi forces. Hershel Greenblat’s family immigrated to the United States in 1949 after living in displaced persons camps in Austria. Greenblat stated that refugees in the 1950s worked extremely hard to secure their needs and desires.

Long-term displacement remains a reality for many others. Hussniyah Ahmad Ghozlan fled her village in 1948 during the war and resettled in Lebanon. She lives in the Shatila camp for Palestinian refugees in Beirut. Ghozlan noted that her community survived through labor and family cohesion, stating they got by because they worked, raised their children and built their lives.

Yusra and Sarah Mardini fled Syria in 2015. Yusra Mardini was named a UNHCR goodwill ambassador in 2017. Mardini acknowledged the complexity of resolving displacement crises.

"You can’t just snap your fingers," Mardini said. She expressed confidence in her ability to help. "I do believe that my country and its people are very strong and that I’m going to contribute in the best way possible," Mardini said.

The United States has engaged in various asylum policies in recent years. Under U.S. President Donald Trump, the United States implemented a policy of sending asylum seekers to third countries.

The 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention occurs while more than 41 million refugees remain forcibly displaced globally. The treaty's core principle of non-refoulement prohibits returning people to places where they face persecution, torture, or serious harm, yet nearly 70% of forcibly displaced refugees are hosted by low- and middle-income countries.

The exclusion of major host countries like Bangladesh from the 1951 Convention creates a disparity in legal protections for refugees such as the Rohingya. While nearly 150 countries are parties to the convention or its 1967 protocol, the presence of more than 130 armed conflicts globally continues to drive displacement. The designation of new goodwill ambassadors like Wenyen Gabriel shows ongoing efforts to raise awareness during these structural challenges.