President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said this Monday, on World Refugee Day that defending the rights of refugees “is an obligation” in Portugal and that the Portuguese regularly show “inclusion and tolerance” to refugees. The president thanked the Portuguese for their “individual and collective effort”, in a press release on the official page of the Portuguese presidency.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said, “From Ukraine and Afghanistan to Mozambique, I cite merely three places where war, human rights violations, and climate change have led millions to dislocate in search for protection”.
He goes on to say, “Defending the rights of refugees, welcoming and integrating them, is more than just about conscience, it is an obligation in a democratic and plural society with a future”.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Portugal has given around 40,000 refugees from the Ukraine temporary stay.
World Refugee Day is an international day led by the United Nations to honor refugees all over the globe and build empathy and understanding for the struggles of refugees. It promotes the right to seek asylum, safe access to open borders, and the humane treatment of refugees.
Every person has the right to seek safety – whoever they are, wherever they come from & whenever they are forced to flee.
On Monday’s #WorldRefugeeDay & every day, join us in standing #WithRefugees. https://t.co/JLt9aNEBk3 via @Refugees pic.twitter.com/H0aRUO2p0O
— United Nations (@UN) June 20, 2022