A new report reveals that from 2019 to 2023, more than one million refugees hailing from eight countries with high asylum acceptance rates were issued entry permits to 38 countries.
The report, authored by the UN Refugee Agency and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, titled “Safe Pathways for Refugees,” indicates that these permits were granted through existing systems for work, education, or family reunification.
Ruven Menikdiwela, assistant high commissioner for protection at UNHCR, stated, “Refugees are accessing the same legal routes that millions rely on every day.” He further noted, “We do not require new systems – just safer access to those already established.”
In 2023, approximately 255,000 permits were issued, representing a 14% increase from 2022 and the highest level recorded since 2010.
Leading nations such as Germany, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden have played pivotal roles in this process.
The UNHCR urges governments to dismantle obstacles for refugees and to facilitate their integration into regular migration systems. Additionally, it calls for stronger partnerships to enhance access to lawful pathways in the face of rising displacement and stressed asylum frameworks.
