World Refugee Day - looking to the future
20 June 2001

Asylum seekers and migrants should not be forgotten on World Refugee Day, said the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which provides for the needs of 3.5 million refugees and displaced people worldwide.

The Federation's 176 member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world are currently debating a major policy shift to take into account the enormous changes which have taken place in the nature of population movements over the last ten years.

"Tens of millions of people are on the move. Many do not fall into specific categories like refugees but face a bleak future if their rights are not recognized and defended. This is where the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement can build on the work it is already doing, particularly on behalf of refugees and displaced people, in order to protect and defend the rights of migrants and asylum seekers", explains Robbie Thomson, Population Movement Advisor to the Federation in Geneva.

"National Societies have done and are doing admirable work to help refugees and displaced people. Today, the causes and patterns of displacement are changing and we are adapting to that change. In the future, the challenge will be to find durable solutions to the problems faced by migrants and asylum seekers", said Robbie Thomson. "Governments are restricting access by refugees and migrants to their countries and donors are restricting funding."

The General Assembly of the International Federation will meet in Geneva next November and will debate this issue in depth, with a view to adopting a new policy which will acknowledge the obligations of member National Societies towards all categories of displaced people.

National Societies - because of their community-based action - are uniquely placed to determine the true vulnerabilities of these groups and can also drive reconciliation processes, where needed.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

IDenis McClean, Head of Media Service, Tel.: +41 22 730 4428/ + 41 79 217 3357

Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer Tel : +41 22 730 4346/ + 41 79 217 3345

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.