Between 2019 and 2023, over one million refugees from eight nations renowned for their high asylum acceptance rates received entry permits to 38 different countries, as detailed in a recent report.
The UN Refugee Agency and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s report, titled “Safe Pathways for Refugees,” highlighted that these permits were issued via established channels for work, study, or family reunification.
Ruven Menikdiwela, the UNHCR’s assistant high commissioner for protection, remarked, “Refugees utilise the same legal pathways as millions do daily.” He emphasised, “There is no need for new systems – merely safer access to those that already exist.”
In 2023, nearly 255,000 permits were granted, reflecting a 14% rise from the previous year and the highest figures since tracking commenced in 2010.
Countries including Germany, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden have been at the forefront of this initiative.
The UNHCR is calling on nations to eliminate barriers for refugees and to integrate them into standard migration frameworks. It also advocates for enhanced collaborations to broaden access to legal pathways amidst escalating displacement and overwhelmed asylum systems.
