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Refugee Rights Are Human Rights

The portrait of a woman
Hope Away from Home

Refugee Rights Are Human Rights

Globally, 3 in 4 people support the human right to seek safety from war, violence, and persecution. UNHCR is calling for ongoing solidarity to protect and defend the rights of all refugees, without discrimination. The time for action is now.

122.6 million people displaced by war, violence and persecution. One story of courage and hope.

Behind every statistic are people – men, women, and children – whose stories deserve to be seen and heard.

Watch the film, feel their strength, and take action this International Human Rights Day.

"This film is an invitation. It asks the audience to step into someone else’s world. To feel what she feels, hear what she hears and see what she sees. It’s about perspective – about seeing the mother, daughter, or nurse before the label of a ‘refugee’. I would like the audience to walk away with a deeper understanding – not just of the struggles, but of the strength, resilience and hope that define these journeys."

From the Director’s Chair – An interview with Leve Kühl, the director of “Through My Eyes”

There’s a moment in “Through My Eyes”, the film by Leve Kühl, that lingers. It is not the perilous sea crossing or the suffocating confines of a detention center. It is Amira, our protagonist – a nurse – standing behind the walls of a hospital, embodying hope in a quiet smile.

For Leve, this story is not just a film; it is a challenge to rethink how we see the world. “Refugees aren’t just numbers or victims,” he says. “They’re people with strengths and stories. People who, given the chance, can enrich our societies.”  

The film draws from countless real experiences – particularly those of women like Amira, who traverse unimaginable terrains, driven not just by desperation, but by hope. 

“Hope isn’t something Amira stumbles upon,” Leve explains. “It’s what propels her – through loss, fear, and even hostility in places she thought would be safe.”  

Yet, as Leve admits, hope alone doesn’t mend the harsh realities many refugees face. The film delicately balances the duality of resilience and hardship. It does not sugarcoat the struggles – the hostility, the years spent in limbo, the barriers to opportunity. “Striking that balance was the hardest part,” Leve confesses. “But Amira’s story needed to show she’s not defined by what she’s endured. She’s a nurse, someone who might save your life. She’s a person first, not a statistic.” 

Leve’s aim is clear: to shift perspectives. “This isn’t about giving refugees a voice. They have voices. It’s about helping audiences like me – comfortable in their living rooms – see beyond the label of ‘refugee’. To see a person, someone with dreams and fears, just like us.” 

In a polarized world, “Through My Eyes” is an invitation to listen and learn. “Sometimes, the most powerful step we can take is to listen,” Leve says.  
Despite so much xenophobia and apparent polarization in the world, despite the erosion of public empathy and trust, you and millions like you, care.     

A new survey by IPSOS and UNHCR’s Hope Away from Home campaign shows that 73% of adults worldwide - three-quarters of the global population - believe that people fleeing war or persecution should have the right to seek safety.  

When you stand up for refugee rights, you join a powerful global community of millions who share your compassion and commitment to justice. Together, we are a movement for hope and humanity.

Add your name and show the world we stand united.

Your voice matters. 

Thank you for showing your support for refugees and people forced to flee. 
Please share this call for support with your friends and family on social media and let them know you have added your name to our growing list!
 

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Real people, real stories

When you’re forced to flee your home and leave behind the life you built, how do you keep moving forward? What gives you hope? Some real people share their hope with us:

Abdul


“What gives me hope away from home is the possibility to start over, to rebuild a new life. It is possible to dream again. It is possible that I can achieve my goals, as today I can work here, study and do the things that give me hope.”

Maimouna


“The strength and potential within the people of Burkina Faso give me hope. I have always been a dreamer, I have always set myself very ambitious goals that I have never thought were unachievable.”

Jin


“What gives me hope is the idea that our shared hardships can inspire solutions that help others. My challenges could lead to something meaningful for others.”

UNHCR’s five key asks of States

The Hope Away from Home campaign establishes five key asks of States with support from UNHCR and partners, to amend policies and introduce new practices so that all people fleeing war, violence and persecution can find and live in safety, without discrimination.

One
Access to safe territory and preventing people from facing violence or dying along the routes.
Icon of the number 2
Adequate conditions and treatment for refugees in line with human rights, dignity and inclusion.
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Accession to the Refugee Convention, lifting reservations and establishing efficient asylum procedures.
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Increased access to durable solutions, including resettlement.
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Solidarity and support to countries and communities hosting large refugee populations.

UNHCR works with partners, civil society, corporate partners and field operations to advance policy change to bring a real and lasting change in how the world responds to the growing refugee crisis.

No one should have to pay with their lives or freedom to reach safety.

Becoming a refugee is not a choice. But how we act towards them, is. Do you look the other way when you see discrimination, injustice and violations of human rights? Or do you take action?  
Let’s keep raising awareness about the issue, let’s keep the conversation going. 

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