ADVOCACY WORK

Right now, the world has the highest number of people forced to leave their homes since the Second World War. Forced displacement is only expected to increase in the future, partly as a result of the climate crisis. In a world of global challenges and protracted crises, sustainable and long-term solutions are needed in the face of increasing forced displacement.

In our vision for the future, refugees and migrants are equal and contributing members of their societies. At the heart of the Finnish Refugee Council’s activity is long-term advocacy work to make this vision a reality. We work to ensure that the right to seek asylum is respected, that the International Refugee Convention and Protocol are upheld, and that the fundamental and human rights of those who are forced to flee are fulfilled.

Finnish Refugee Council is a significant expert on forced displacement and integration in Finland. As an organisation, we provide a range of specialist support and integration support services to authorities, organisations, and people in the process of integration. We influence the structures of society, political decisions, and the implementation of decisions both in Finland and internationally.

In our International Programme, we defend the rights of refugees and migrants in concrete terms by providing them with access to information, education, and sustainable livelihoods. We are currently working abroad in Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan and Myanmar.

Effective organisational advocacy also requires collaboration. Finnish Refugee Council is the official information and cooperation partner of the UNHCR. On the international scene, we work with other humanitarian actors in the ICVA network (International Council of Voluntary Agencies). In Finland, we lead and coordinate a refugee advocacy network that includes a wide range of organisations and other actors working in the field of migration and integration.