Uruguay lauded as refugee 'oasis' on World Refugee Day

Uruguay is celebrating its role as a "safe haven" for refugees, marking World Refugee Day and the 20th anniversary of its national asylum law. The country's consistent humanitarian approach has earned it international recognition, as highlighted by Vice Foreign Minister Valeria Csukasi at an event with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

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It is a country that continues to be seen as an oasis, as a safe place in times when internationally we see more and more crises and more displaced people.

Csukasi noted that Uruguay currently manages around 33,000 pending asylum applications, receiving an average of 1,500 new requests each year. "It is a country that continues to be seen as an oasis, as a safe place in times when internationally we see more and more crises and more displaced people," she stated.

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firm vocation of solidarity

Isabel Márquez, UNHCR's regional representative, presented a stark global picture, with over 117 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, 23 million of whom are in the Americas. She praised Uruguay's "firm vocation of solidarity" and the enduring strength of Law 18.076, enacted 20 years ago with broad political consensus, calling it a "pioneering norm" in the region.

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pioneering norm

While celebrating these achievements, Márquez also warned of "urgent challenges." She pointed out that global financial resources are not keeping pace with the escalating rates of forced displacement, jeopardizing essential programs. In response, Csukasi urged society to remain vigilant against the growing risks of xenophobia, emphasizing the crucial need for coordinated efforts between the state and civil society to ensure genuine integration for refugees.

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urgent challenges