World Refugee Day 2025
21 June 2025
Today, on the eve of the World Refugee Day, we honor the courage and strength of refugees across the globe, as we also reflect on their stories of loss and pain.

We are living through volatile times. Global displacement has kept increasing for the last decade and has now reached record levels, with 122 million people currently forcibly displaced. This means that 1 in 67 individuals living on our planet had to leave their homes, inside their countries or crossing borders. Conflicts go unresolved, civilians are under attack in many parts of the world -- and humanitarian aid is being slashed, putting millions of lives at risk.
This year, we mark 30 years since the end of the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some 2.2 million of citizens of BiH had to leave their homes, fleeing for safety and protection. Approximately half of them have returned in the meantime.
Just as the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina were forced to leave their homeland 30 years ago, and found protection across the globe - today, people from other parts of the world are coming to BiH, to find safety and conditions for a more dignified life away from persecution and civil unrests.
Since 2018, some 172,000 people (or 25,000 in average per year) arrived irregularly in BiH,among them, some had to flee civil unrest or persecution and are looking for safety and protection . A small fraction of them have decidedto apply for asylum in Bosnia Herzegovina, aiming to rebuild their lives in this country. Currently, close to 500 individuals have either been granted a protection status or are waiting to be processed.
Together, we have the power to make a real difference. Whether it is helping refugees feel at home, advocating for fair policies, amending laws to better facilitate their integration, creating job opportunities, donating time or resources, or simply sharing a story. Every gesture counts, no matter how small.
Let’s remember: refugees are people like you and me, they are individuals with potential, talent and skills. They are not defined by what they’ve lost, but by how they thrive through adversity. They are not looking for charity; they seek opportunity and self-advancement. They just need to be given the chance to become valued members of our societies, by contributing and enriching our cultures.
Let’s keep collaborating to create a welcoming community that reflects kindness, compassion, and inclusion. A place where everyone belongs. By supporting refugees, we’re not just helping people who needs it but, we’re building a better and stronger society for all of us.
Let us stand with refugees, not just today, but every day.
