Barham Salih, who once fled repression in Iraq as a young man, knows the weight of exile—not just the fear of leaving, but the quiet resilience it takes to rebuild. Now, as High Commissioner for Refugees, he’s issuing a bold challenge: cut the number of refugees trapped in long-term displacement by half by 2035. This target, unveiled ahead of World Refugee Day on 20 June, isn’t just aspirational—it’s a necessary shift from managing crises to solving them. With 80% of the world’s refugees hosted in low- and middle-income countries, and millions relying on shrinking humanitarian aid for survival, the current model is unsustainable. The vision, known as “50 by 35,” aims to transform lives by unlocking access to work, education, healthcare, and social protection, empowering refugees to contribute fully to their host communities.
This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, a landmark treaty born from the ashes of World War II that affirmed the right of anyone fleeing conflict or persecution to seek safety. Salih calls on the world to honor that promise, not just in spirit but in action. “Until everyone is safe, none of us are safe,” he insists—a truth underscored by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned that deepening global divisions and ongoing conflicts are forcing record numbers of women, children, and men to flee their homes. Humanitarian aid remains vital in emergencies, but it was never meant to be a lifelong crutch.
The campaign behind this vision, launched by UNHCR under the theme Until Everyone is Safe, is rallying young people worldwide to stand with refugees and defend the right to asylum. It challenges harmful stereotypes by highlighting the real roles refugees play—as neighbors, students, entrepreneurs, artists, and leaders. In Jordan, for example, Syrian refugees have launched bakeries and tech startups; in Uganda, refugee-run farms supply local markets. These stories are not exceptions—they’re evidence of what’s possible when opportunity replaces dependency.
The goal is both moral and practical: helping refugees thrive isn’t just about compassion, it’s about shared stability. When people can work, their children can go to school, and families can access healthcare, entire communities grow stronger. The 50 by 35 vision doesn’t just aim to reduce a statistic—it aims to restore dignity, agency, and hope. As Salih reminds us, “while a person may, for a time, be defined as a refugee, becoming a refugee should not define a person’s life.” The next decade will test whether the world is ready to turn that belief into reality.