Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister H. Ali Özel represented Türkiye at a high-level event in New York held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, calling for stronger international solidarity in the protection of refugees.
The event, organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), marked the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
In his address, Özel reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for the convention and emphasized that protecting refugees is a shared responsibility of the international community rather than a burden to be carried by a limited number of countries.
He stressed that responsibility for refugee protection should be shared fairly and called for greater solidarity with countries hosting large refugee populations.
Türkiye’s message at the meeting focused on strengthening international burden and responsibility sharing, while increasing support for host countries facing significant humanitarian, social and economic pressures.
1951 Refugee Convention Marks 75th Anniversary
The 1951 Refugee Convention is one of the principal legal foundations of the international refugee protection system. It defines who qualifies as a refugee and establishes key rights and obligations concerning their protection.
The high-level gathering in New York provided an opportunity to reflect on the convention’s 75-year legacy as the international community continues to face major displacement and refugee crises around the world.
Özel’s participation in the event was part of Türkiye’s wider diplomatic engagements in New York during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
