June 20 is World Refugee Day, observed to honour the strength, dignity and needs of people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution.

This year, World Refugee Day also commemorates 75years since the 1951 Refugee Convention, which established the foundational treaty defining who a refugee is and the international obligations to protect them in the aftermath of World War II.

Despite the efforts in the last 75 years, the migration crisis is worsening. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) predicts that there will be 136 million forcibly displaced or stateless people by the end of 2026.

To mark the day, Anglican News shares examples of how Anglicans are standing alongside refugees in prayer, advocacy, friendship and action.

Anglicans release statement advocating to resist divisive political narratives about Refugees

Anglicans are one of the faith groups that consistently advocate for justice and safety for migrants and refugees. The Anglican Communion is represented on UNHCR Multi-Religious Council of Leaders by the Most Dr Revd Maimbo Mndolwa, Archbishop of Tanzania and the Rt Revd Mark Edington of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe.

This week, they released a statement urging people ‘to resist the increasingly powerful narratives that polarise how we see refugees and how we speak of them, often reducing them to slogans to gather votes’.

An excerpt from the statement reads: ‘We honour the extraordinary courage shown daily by refugees and displaced people: the courage to survive conflict and loss, to undertake dangerous journeys, to rebuild and to continue hoping amid uncertainty. And we give thanks for the quiet, faithful work of thousands of Anglicans in churches around the world who strive each day to treat refugees with compassion, dignity and understanding…

‘We also challenge world leaders to have the courage to engage in dialogue—with each other, and also with faith communities—about our shared responsibilities. How we respond to the most vulnerable is a test of our integrity and courage—and, indeed, of our very humanity. Public discourse about refugees must not be driven by fear, exclusion or political expediency. It must call us to work together in the shared interest of all of humanity, and to do so in pursuit of justice, peace, human dignity and sustainability, especially for the most vulnerable.’

The Archbishop of Canterbury

On June 16, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Barham Salih, at Lambeth Palace. During the meeting, they discussed how each displaced person is made in the image of God, with a unique story, how faith communities are essential in the response to the migration crisis and the importance of inter faith dialogue to support the work of the UNHCR.

Following the meeting, Archbishop Sarah said, ‘I was encouraged to hear about efforts to reduce long-term dependence on humanitarian aid through education and opportunity, helping refugees contribute fully to the communities around them.

‘As we approach the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, I am thankful for the work of UNHCR and for the many faith communities that continue to offer welcome, support and hope to those forced to flee their homes.’

Posting on X after the meeting, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees shared that he was ‘Honoured to meet Archbishop Sarah at a time of ongoing forced displacement and polarised debate. Faith leadership is key to advancing dignity and action. As we mark 75 years of the 1951 Convention, we must work together on safety and solutions for refugees to rebuild their lives.’

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion

In the lead-up to World Refugee Day, the Anglican Communion’s Secretary General, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, shared his support for the recent statement advocating for the rights of displaced people by the Anglican representatives on the UN High Commissioner’s Multi-Religious Council of Leaders.

In a short video message, Bishop Anthony reflected on his own experience of fleeing civil war as a child and called on churches to respond to refugees and displaced people with compassion and courage.

In his message, Bishop Anthony said: ‘Dear friends, the 20th of June is World Refugee Day — observed around the world to honour the strength, dignity and needs of people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution. This year, the Anglican Communion is marking World Refugee Day with a global statement. It emphasises the need for nations to continue in dialogue and respond well to refugee crises around the world.

‘I want to commend the statement to our churches and partners around the world. But I also want to say a word about why this matters to me personally. I was born in Kajo-Keji, in what is now South Sudan. As a child, my family fled across the border into Uganda, driven out by civil war. I have known displacement and I have spent years serving among displaced communities. That experience is never far from me.

‘The challenge our world faces today is serious and complex. There is a clear call upon us — as Christians, and as a global Communion — to take the situation of refugees and displaced people seriously, to understand it, and to respond with both compassion and courage. I encourage churches everywhere to read our statement and to reflect on how your community can play its part — in welcome, in advocacy, and in prayer. Amen.’

The Anglican Alliance

The Anglican Alliance is closely involved in supporting churches along migration routes and who boarder conflict zones with their efforts in providing aid and safety to displaced people. The Anglican Alliance recently released a resource for churches responding to the refugee and migration crisis. ‘People on the Move’ seeks to equip and support churches and communities to promote safe migration and tackle the evil of human trafficking.

Episcopal Migration Ministries

Episcopal Migration Ministries supports dioceses and ministry networks around The Episcopal Church by addressing the issue of global migration, protecting the rights of migrants and working to educate and equip church partners regarding aspects of migration. In honour of World Refugee Day, the Episcopal Migration Ministries are holding an online meeting at 1 pm ET on June 23, titled ‘Migration Routes and the Church in the Americas’, which will include a panel of speakers from the Anglican Communion in South America as well as The Episcopal Church.

Speakers include the Rt Revd Elías García Cárdenas, Bishop of Colombia, the Most Revd Alba Sally Sue Hernández García, Archbishop of Mexico, the Most Revd Marinez Rosa dos Santos Bassotto, Archbishop of Brazil and the Most Revd David Alvarado, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Central America. Anyone interested in learning more about Immigration patterns and how the Church is responding in the Americas can join and Spanish interpretation is available.

More information

Learn more about how Anglicans are working with and supporting displaced people.

Read the recent statement by the Most Revd Maimbo Mndolwa, Archbishop of Tanzania and the Rt Revd Mark Edington of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, representatives of the Anglican Communion on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Multi-Religious Council of Leaders.

See a social media post about Archbishop Sarah’s meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

See a statement from March 2026 from Anglican representatives on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Multi-Religious Council of Leaders regarding the status of refugees in the wake of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

See a recent video message from the Secretary of the Anglican Communion about the importance of caring for refugees and why the migration crisis resonates particularly with him.

Learn more about the Anglican Alliance’s ‘People on the Move’ resource.

Register for the online meeting ‘Migration Routes and the Church in the Americas’.