The Refugee Convention turns 75 under pressure

The United Nations Refugee Convention turns 75 at a time of strong political tensions over asylum. The treaty was adopted in 1951 after the Second World War, when millions of people had been forced to leave their homes and many European communities had been destroyed.

The text defines a refugee as a person with a well-founded fear of persecution or who faces serious threats to their life, physical integrity or freedom. The original version was limited to events that had taken place before 1951 and to the European continent. After the 1956 Hungarian uprising and the conflicts linked to decolonization, these restrictions were lifted. In 1967, the Convention became universal in scope.

Since then, it has provided protection to millions of people fleeing wars and persecution. At the end of 2025, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees recorded 41.6 million recognized refugees worldwide. The International Committee of the Red Cross also counts about 130 conflicts. According to UNHCR, more than 117 million people have been forcibly displaced, most of them within their own countries.

New pressures

Public debate often confuses refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. People who seek work in another country do not automatically meet the definition of a refugee, even though they may submit an application for protection. UNHCR calls for safe and legal pathways for both categories.

Several states are instead restricting access to asylum. Europe is also discussing the transfer of procedures to third countries. Switzerland hosts about 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers and, like other European countries, is considering proposals of this kind.

So-called return centers would accommodate people whose applications have been rejected while they await return to their country of origin. The Swiss Refugee Council warns of the risk of violations of fundamental rights. UNHCR considers these facilities acceptable only if applications are properly examined and human rights are guaranteed.

International protection is also facing financial pressure. In 2026, UNHCR has a budget of 8.5 billion dollars, about 2.1 billion less than the previous year. Activities have been scaled back and thousands of jobs have been cut. The United States, previously the agency’s main funder, has suspended most refugee resettlement. A possible withdrawal from UNHCR is also being discussed.

Climate change adds another layer of complexity. Droughts, famines and natural disasters do not, on their own, currently give people the right to asylum. Over the past decade, extreme weather events have nevertheless caused about 250 million internal displacements. UNHCR calls on states to support affected populations without changing the Convention at a time when political developments could weaken its protection.