Books & Magazines
World Refugee Day 2025, observed on 20 June, is an international day designated by the UN to honour refugees around the globe. World Refugee Day 2025 highlights their strength, resilience, and the need for global solidarity and inclusive support.
PWOnlyIAS
June 20, 2025
World Refugee Day, observed every year on 20 June, is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It is a poignant reminder of the courage, strength, and resilience displayed by millions of people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or human rights violations. Each year, this global observance unites governments, civil society, host communities, and displaced persons in solidarity and support.
World Refugee Day 2025 was observed globally on 20 June 2025 (Friday) to recognise the courage, resilience, and rights of millions of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. With the World Refugee Day 2025 theme centred around “Community as a Superpower”, the day calls for global solidarity through inclusive actions that empower refugee communities and highlight the transformative role of compassion, unity, and shared humanity.
| World Refugee Day 2025 | |
| Feature | Details |
| Event Name | World Refugee Day 2025 |
| Date | 20 June 2025 |
| Designated By | United Nations |
| First Observed | 20 June 2001 (commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention) |
| Theme (2025) | Solidarity with Refugees |
| Purpose | To honour refugees and raise awareness about their rights, needs, and dreams |
| Global Body Involved | UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) |
| Legal Framework | 1951 Refugee Convention & 1967 Protocol |
| Is India Signatory to 1951 Convention? | No |
| Key Focus in 2025 | Solidarity, inclusivity, and empowering refugee communities through collective action |
| Refugees in India (as of 2022) | Over 46,000 registered with UNHCR India |
| Global Refugee Population (2024) | Estimated over 43.4 million |
The World Refugee Day 2025 theme is “Solidarity with Refugees”, focusing on actions rather than words. It emphasises welcoming, supporting, and integrating refugees, and empowering them to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. The message is simple: refugees are not alone.
The Refugee Week 2025 also aligns with this theme under the banner “Community as a Superpower”, celebrating small acts of kindness that collectively build inclusive and compassionate societies.
List Of International National Days 2025 Month-Wise List
World Refugee Day was first celebrated globally on June 20, 2001, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention — a key legal document defining the term “refugee” and outlining their rights and host countries’ obligations. Prior to 2001, many African nations observed Africa Refugee Day, which was later adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2000 as World Refugee Day.
The refugee, as defined by the 1951 Refugee Convention, refers to a person who:
“Owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside their country of nationality and is unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country.”
Different categories of displaced persons include:
The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol are foundational international treaties that define refugee rights and host nation obligations. Central to the Convention is the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of refugees to territories where their life or freedom is threatened.
These instruments:
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, upholds the mandates of these documents while providing protection to 129.9 million displaced and stateless people across 136 countries.
The Refugee Convention (1951) and its 1967 Protocol form the core legal framework for refugee protection. Its key principle — non-refoulement — prohibits returning refugees to a country where their lives are at risk. It also mandates that refugees receive equal treatment as nationals in various domains, including employment, education, and public relief.
The answer is no. India has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, citing the following reasons:
India, despite not being a signatory to the Refugee Convention, has hosted several refugee groups for decades with compassion and resilience.
As of January 2022, India hosts over 46,000 UNHCR-registered refugees and asylum seekers, mostly from Afghanistan and Myanmar. India has facilitated the voluntary return of over 17,900 Sri Lankan refugees and supports urban refugee settlements across 11 states.
Despite its hospitality, India has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention. This decision stems from:
The refugee crisis is one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Millions of people around the globe are forcibly displaced every year due to conflict, persecution, and disasters. Here’s a snapshot of the global refugee scenario:
World Refugee Day serves critical purposes:
The 2025 theme, “Community as a Superpower”, emphasises the transformative power of local communities in providing refugees with hope and dignity. From grassroots efforts to policy-level engagement, communities can be powerful agents of change.
World Refugee Day 2025 is not just a day of remembrance but a call to action. It urges governments, communities, and individuals to listen to refugees, defend their rights, and support their future. With solidarity as our strength and community as our superpower, we can ensure that those forced to flee are not forgotten or left behind.
Ready to boost your UPSC 2025 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC online courses today!
.png)
Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing
Download Our App
Download Our App
Books & Magazines
Prahaar (Mains Wallah)
Mains Wallah (Q&A Bank)
Budget & Economic Survey
Monthly Current Wallah
Weekly Current Wallah
Editorial Summary
Editorial Q&A Compilation
NCERT Wallah
Marks Booster
Udaan 500+
Udaan
Prelims Wallah (Q&A Bank)
<div class="new-fform">
</div>
