UNHCR and Religions for Peace invite your leadership to support #WithRefugees, a new campaign and petition that calls on world leaders to show solidarity to find solutions for people displaced by war or persecution.
18 July 2016
Esteemed Colleague:
UNHCR and Religions for Peace invite your leadership to support #WithRefugees, a new campaign and petition that calls on world leaders to show solidarity to find solutions for people displaced by war or persecution.
The complexity and protracted nature of today’s increasing number of conflicts mean that forced displacement has now reached an unprecedented level, with more than 65 million people uprooted globally. Against this backdrop, disturbing levels of xenophobia and divisive political rhetoric on asylum and migration issues present significant challenges to refugee protection.
Alongside these developments, however, we are also witnessing great demonstrations of generosity from host communities, an outpouring of volunteerism, and a willingness by ordinary people to become involved in the refugee cause.
Strengthening this surge of support can help to mobilize States in support of a global compact for refugees that reaffirms that this is a matter of international concern. Securing their protection can only be achieved through international solidarity and responsibility sharing.
The #WithRefugees petition will be delivered ahead of the 19 September United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting addressing large movements of refugees and migrants at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The petition text is available on www.unhcr.org/refugeeday/petition.
We take this opportunity to encourage you to join the #WithRefugees campaign and sign the petition, as well as advocate for it to be signed across your communities.
Yours sincerely,
Religions for Peace is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace by working to advance multi-religious consensus on positive aspects of peace as well as concrete actions to stop war, help eliminate extreme poverty and protect the earth. The global Religions for Peace network comprises a World Council of senior religious leaders from all regions of the world; six regional inter-religious bodies and more than ninety national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global Interfaith Youth Network.
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