When air raid sirens sound, a deaf child cannot hear them. When a family migrates through the Darién Gap’s jungle terrain, a blind child cannot see the way. When war erupts and a family must flee, a child in a wheelchair is left behind. When a non-verbal child arrives in a refugee camp’s reception center, […]
Category: Policy Briefs
Refugee-Led Organizations: Support and Challenges in the Uganda Response
Refugee-led organizations, civil society groups formed and managed by refugees themselves, are a growing actor in displacement responses across the world. Ranging from large, professional networks to handfuls of volunteers, these groups channel their talent and past trauma into providing services, promoting livelihoods, and giving other essential support to their neighbors. But these groups face […]
One Year After the Asylum Ban: More Barriers to Asylum Access
By the end of World War II, between 50-80 million people had been killed. An estimated 60 million more had been displaced, many of whom were attempting to seek refuge in other countries. To ensure that the consequences of World War II would never repeat, the United Nations (UN) drafted the Universal Declaration of Human […]
The Refugee Response in Uganda
Uganda is Africa’s largest refugee-hosting country with more than 1.5 million refugees residing within its borders. The East African nation deploys one of the most progressive policy responses to cross-border displacement on the continent. But this response faces headwinds—from declines in international support to the rise of climate-related displacement. This brief provides an overview of […]
To Displace & Destroy: Sexual Violence in Haiti & the Darién Gap
Content sensitivities: the following policy brief contains detailed language about sexual violence. An estimated one in three women and girls globally will experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetime. Gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual violence, is a widespread threat for women and girls in peacetime, but in times of conflict, crisis, and displacement, […]
Afghan Family Reunification
Two and a half years ago, the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan separated countless Afghan families. Amid a rapid and frenetic evacuation effort, thousands of Afghans boarded planes leaving the Kabul airport—but untold spouses, children, parents, siblings, and other loved ones were left behind. In the months and years since, Afghan parolees have gradually received more […]
Myanmar’s Human Rights Crisis: In Freefall with Insufficient International Attention
Myanmar has long faced political uncertainty and turmoil. But the humanitarian crisis compounded in February 2021, when Myanmar’s military, the Tatmadaw, carried out a coup against the government—detaining civilian leaders, naming replacement ministers, and declaring a one-year state of emergency. Pro-democracy protests in major cities were met with force as the Tatmadaw immediately cracked down […]
The Supplemental: Refugee-Related Considerations as Congress Navigates the Latest Funding Fight
On February 4, U.S. Senate leadership and a group of Senators released a legislative deal to provide additional, or supplemental, funding to a variety of U.S. government priorities. The proposal sparked immediate controversy for its vast changes to U.S. immigration and border policy. Early on February 13, a majority of the Senate passed a version […]
Policy Brief: The Largest Humanitarian Needs of 2024
The United Nations (UN) and partner organizations estimate that 299.4 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2024. These needs are driven by conflict, the climate crisis, and economic factors, according to the Global Humanitarian Overview, the annual assessment of worldwide humanitarian needs and how to address them. This report will provide brief […]
Policy Brief: The Largest Child Displacement Crisis in the World
Today, children are engulfed in conflicts and crises around the world. Within situations of armed conflict, children suffer immense consequences of wars they had no hand in creating. In these contexts, children often endure some of the most severe acts of violence, encounter extreme protection risks, and are deprived of their basic rights. Conflict and […]
