No fewer than one million refugees from eight conflict-affected countries have been granted entry permits to 38 destination nations between 2019 and 2023, according to a new report jointly released by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The report, titled Safe Pathways for Refugees, reveals that these permits were issued through existing legal migration routes such as employment, education, and family reunification schemes, rather than through asylum channels.
“Refugees are using the same legal channels that millions rely on every day,” said Ruven Menikdiwela, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection. “We don’t need new systems – just safer access to the ones already in place.”
The report notes that in 2023 alone, nearly 255,000 refugees received such permits — a 14 per cent increase from the previous year and the highest figure recorded since tracking began in 2010.
Countries including Germany, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden were highlighted as major contributors to these safe migration opportunities.
UNHCR is now calling on governments to remove barriers that hinder refugee access to existing legal pathways and to work collaboratively to integrate displaced persons into regular migration frameworks. The agency also emphasized the need for stronger partnerships to address growing global displacement and alleviate pressure on asylum systems.
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