What Solidarity Means on World Refugee Day 2025
Posted by Piedra Lightfoot on
This year, World Refugee Day is a call to stand in solidarity with refugees.
But what does solidarity really mean? It’s more than a slogan. It’s about action — listening, supporting, including, and defending the rights of those who’ve been forced to flee.
In a world facing rising displacement, conflict, and uncertainty, solidarity means standing together. With courage. With empathy. And with resolve.
(Photo: Ala Kheir)
Solidarity Means Centering Refugee Voices
Every refugee carries a story. Stories of pain. Of loss. But also of resilience and unimaginable strength.
Too often, refugees are reduced to statistics or labels. But they are so much more than the circumstances that forced them to flee. They are parents, teachers, artists, entrepreneurs. They have hopes, talents, and dreams just like anyone else.
Refugees don’t want to be seen only as victims. They want to be heard. They want to contribute. And they do — every day — in powerful, often unseen ways.
On this World Refugee Day, we share their stories as a reflection of their courage, creativity, and potential. Their voices deserve not just to be heard, but centered.
Solidarity Means Building Communities That Welcome
Becoming a refugee is not a choice. But how we choose to respond — that is in our hands.
Refugees seek the same things we all do: safety, stability, community, and the chance to provide for their families. They want to belong. They want to give back.
Around the world, refugees are bringing fresh ideas, skills, and energy that spark creativity and innovation in their host communities. And when those communities welcome and include them, everyone thrives.
Solidarity is found in that simple, powerful message: “We see you. You are not forgotten. You are not alone.”
Solidarity Means Working for Peace — and for Solutions
We’re living in a time of shrinking peace and expanding conflict. Wars are dragging on. Displacement is rising. And the burden is falling most heavily on civilians.
For many, crossing a border is not a decision — it’s a last resort for survival.
Yes, countries must uphold their obligation to offer protection. But it cannot end there. Refugees need the chance to contribute, in a way that utilizes their skills and talents.
Most refugees are hosted in low- and middle-income countries. Those countries need greater support and investment — so both refugees and hosts can thrive.
Solidarity Means Staying and Delivering
UNHCR was created to protect and assist people forced to flee — and that mission is more vital than ever.
Even in the most difficult environments, where conflict and crisis persist and in the midst of a funding crunch, UNHCR and its partners stay. We continue to work, support, and deliver.
As Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said: “The cost of inaction will be measured in suffering, instability and lost futures.”
We stand not only with refugees — but with the frontline workers and humanitarian partners who refuse to give up.
What You Can Do
(Photo: Pedro Gomes)
Now more than ever, we must show up. We all have a role to play in shaping the kind of world we want to live in.
✳️ Wear
Join a global community standing in solidarity by wearing a bracelet made by refugee artisans.
Crafted in South Sudan, Kenya, and Egypt, these bracelets are made by refugee and internally displaced women — many of them single mothers and caregivers — who are earning income through traditional beading techniques passed down through generations.
Wearing this bracelet is a way to show the world you believe in compassion, inclusion, and the right to safety and belonging for all.
Shop The With Refugees Bracelet here
✳️ Share
Spread the message. Share refugee stories. Use your voice and platform to raise awareness and advocate for inclusive communities.
If you believe refugee lives and rights matter, now is the time to act. In big ways and small, let’s show up for refugees — and stand in true solidarity.
Cate Blanchett, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, puts it simply: “When humanitarian aid disappears, people forced to flee suffer most. World Refugee Day is a call for solidarity.”
(Photo: UNHCR)