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Celebrities urge countries to uphold 1951 Refugee Convention amid asylum strain
The UN refugee agency said the convention has saved millions of lives, as governments tighten border controls amid near-record displacement.
Celebrities and faith leaders, including Cate Blanchett and Angelina Jolie, urged countries to uphold the legal protections for refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention, as the United Nations warned of mounting pressure on asylum systems, Reuters reported.
The UNHCR backed the convention in a statement that highlighted “The Promise,” signed by dozens of celebrities, athletes, business leaders and faith leaders. UN High Commissioner Barham Salih, a former refugee, said the convention had saved millions of lives and that the core promise remains vital.
The discussion took place at a meeting on refugee protections in Geneva, where Salih argued the guarantee should be kept alive despite increased border tightening by governments amid conflicts driving displacement.
Actors and other signatories included Ben Stiller, Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Erivo and Riz Ahmed, along with former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and basketball player Wenyen Gabriel, a former refugee who said that when refugees are given a chance, they can build a future.