On June 23, 2026, the Royal Palace Hotel hosted the commemoration of World Refugee Day under the universal theme: “Until everyone is safe”. Marked by the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention. This event brought together refugee communities, the Burundian government, UNHCR, JRS and all partners on the ground to celebrate the courage and resilience of millions of forcibly displaced people around the world.

The bottom line: 75 years of protection and a universal message that is still alive

At the heart of this memorable day, a fundamental principle guided all minds: the spirit of the 1951 Convention. This historic text affirms that a person forced to flee beyond his borders never loses his rights or his dignity. The celebration reaffirmed that every refugee should be able to live in safety, access education, work, actively participate in the life of the community and look to the future with hope. As the world faces a major humanitarian challenge with an estimated 117.8 million displaced people, this commemoration in Bujumbura highlighted faces, journeys and concrete successes.

The Minister’s strong commitment: Solidarity and inclusion

Present at this great commemoration, the representative of the Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security took the floor to reaffirm Burundi’s tradition of welcome. In his official address, the Minister praised the courage of the refugee communities and recalled the unwavering commitment of the Burundian State to guarantee a secure and fraternal environment for all displaced persons.

He warmly commended the joint efforts of UNHCR, JRS and all partner agencies who are working hand in hand with the government to turn challenges into opportunities for development. He also encouraged the continuation of empowerment programmes, stressing that dignity is first and foremost about learning, skills development and access to a stable life in host communities.

Education at the heart of the celebration: Figures for the future

During the day, the JRS Burundi-Tanzania Country Director, Amadou Alhaj, shared the results of the achievements and activities carried out in the field.

The sectoral performance indicators show a remarkable commitment to access to education in the field:

• 27,550 refugee children (14,172 boys and 13,378 girls) are currently supported by education programmes.
• This overall assessment includes 26,790 students (13,763 boys and 13,027 girls) actively enrolled in refugee camps, urban areas and the Musenyi site.
• At the Busuma site, 760 students (409 boys and 351 girls) benefit from specific remedial classes to facilitate their reintegration.
• Academic excellence continues to the next level thanks to the DAFI scholarship initiative which supports 24 scholarship holders: 23 students continue their studies at the University of Bujumbura and one at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS).

Reflection Groups: Four panels at the heart of the debates

To give concrete follow-up to these commitments, the day was structured around four essential discussion spaces:

• Panel 1: Freedom of movement.
• Panel 2: Access to Asylum and Protection.
• Panel 3: Inclusion in Education, Health and Livelihoods.
• Panel 4: Sustainable Solutions and Community Cohesion.

Voices, songs and smiles to express dignity

The strength and beauty of this commemoration was expressed through the cultural expressions of the community. It was refugee children, women and girls who lit up the scene. Through touching plays, choreographed songs and traditional dances, they shared their experiences and aspirations. With great dignity, they expressed their dearest wishes: to obtain the systematic validation of their refugee cards so that they serve as real legal residence permits, and
to have access to the legal right to work to guarantee the economic autonomy of their households.

The president of the refugee community also took the floor to salute the synergy of all the partners in the field. He expressed his gratitude to UN Women, UNHCR and partner organizations such as JRS for providing essential production equipment for the development of income-generating activities, including soap making, sewing, agriculture and the making of eco-friendly briquettes.