Until Everyone Is Safe: Albania Marks World Refugee Day 2026

TIRANA, Albania – The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, marked World Refugee Day, observed annually on 20 June, through a series of events across Albania, bringing together refugees and asylum-seekers, government institutions, local authorities, faith leaders, students, civil society organizations and international partners to reaffirm a shared commitment to refugee protection. This year's commemoration also coincided with the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the cornerstone of the international refugee protection regime. 

This year's World Refugee Day campaign, "Until Everyone is Safe", aimed to mobilize younger generations to reclaim and defend asylum as a shared global good. The campaign comes at a time when displacement remains one of the defining challenges of our era. At the end of 2025, an estimated 117.8 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order. Against this backdrop, the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention serves as a timely reminder that the right to seek safety remains as relevant today as when the Convention was adopted. 

Reflecting on 75 Years of Refugee Protection

The commemoration took place on 16 June at Europe House in Tirana, where UNHCR and the European Union Delegation to Albania brought together refugees, government representatives, diplomats, academia and partners. The event served both as a moment of reflection on 75 years of refugee protection and as a call to action to uphold the right to seek asylum in today's context.

Opening remarks by Mr. Besfort Lamallari, Minister of Internal Affairs, H.E. Silvio Gonzato, EU Ambassador to Albania, and Ms. Nicole Epting, UNHCR Representative for Central and South-East Europe, set the tone for a discussion centred on shared responsibility, solidarity and practical action in support of refugees. A refugee speaker also contributed to the event, grounding the discussion in lived experience and reminding participants of what protection means in human terms. 

A panel discussion brought  explored refugee protection and responsibility-sharing in Albania and beyond. Participants were also invited to visit a photo exhibition, supported through the EU4Migration project, which traced key milestones across 75 years of refugee protection and highlighted stories illustrating the impact of refugee inclusion in Albania today. 

Building Connections Through Sport

Ahead of World Refugee Day, UNHCR and its partner Refugee and Migration Services in Albania (RMSA) organized a volleyball activity at the Reception Centre for Asylum, bringing together refugees, asylum-seekers and colleagues from UNHCR, RMSA, the Reception Centre for Asylum and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Designed around teamwork, well-being and positive engagement, the event created opportunities for connection and interaction among participants from different backgrounds.

Participants were divided into mixed teams, reinforcing the spirit of inclusion that World Refugee Day seeks to promote. Wearing T-shirts featuring this year's campaign message, they came together not only for a friendly match, but for a shared moment of community and belonging. The activity concluded with a shared meal provided by a refugee-owned business, highlighting refugee entrepreneurship and the positive contributions refugees can make when given the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.

Communities Across Albania Stand Together

Following the events in Tirana, World Refugee Day activities moved into communities across the country, with public events held in Gjirokastër on 22 June and Korçë on 23 June, bringing conversations on asylum and refugee protection closer to local communities.

In Gjirokastër, representatives from local government, interfaith communities, educational and social service institutions, the Albanian Red Cross, UNHCR, refugees, asylum-seekers and local residents gathered in the historic centre of the city. Through a joint information stand and a symbolic walk, participants created a space for dialogue, awareness and engagement, demonstrating how cooperation across institutions and communities can strengthen inclusion and social cohesion.

In Korçë, UNHCR, the Albanian Red Cross and Fan S. Noli University brought together local authorities, academia, civil society organizations, students, youth volunteers and community members to reaffirm their commitment to protection and inclusion. A highlight of the event was the “Solidarity Walk” initiative, where participants shared messages of support and hope for refugees before walking together through the city in a visible expression of solidarity.

Together, the events in Gjirokastër and Korçë highlighted the strength of local partnerships and demonstrated how dialogue, community engagement and collective action can help foster inclusion and support for people forced to flee.

A Shared Message Across Albania

From Tirana to the Reception Centre, Gjirokastër and Korçë, World Refugee Day 2026 brought together people from different backgrounds and communities in support of those forced to flee. As Albania marked both World Refugee Day and the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the events highlighted how global principles take shape through local action, partnership and community engagement. At a time when 117.8 million people worldwide have been forced to flee, solidarity, inclusion and collective action are more important than ever.

Protection is not just a principle. 

It is a promise. 

And that promise must endure until everyone is safe.