Refugees International

Refugees International was founded in 1979 as a citizens' movement to protect Indochinese refugees. Since then, RI has expanded to become a leading humanitarian advocacy organization that alerts governments, the UN, other international organizations, and NGOs to critical gaps in emergency response during displacement crises and provides policy options for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people. RI aims to improve the lives of displaced people by shining a light on neglected crises and pressing world leaders to respond in a way that safeguards the lives and well being of affected populations. In particular, RI pays special attention to the situation for displaced women and girls as well as victims of climate disasters, where funding, implementation, and coordination of humanitarian assistance has remained weak and inconsistent at a policy level. As a result of RI's efforts, displaced people receive food, medicine, and education; families return home; peacekeepers are sent to protect displaced people from harm; and stateless people obtain legal status.

The fact that RI does not accept government or UN funding allows the organization's advocacy work to be fearless and independent. With increased organizational credibility comes additional responsibility for RI to promote changes in law and policy that will promise a brighter future for displaced populations. Focusing on the most pressing humanitarian crises, RI conducts approximately 12-13 field missions every year to identify displaced people's needs for basic services, such as food, water, health care, housing, access to education and protection from harm. Utilizing this field-based knowledge of humanitarian emergencies, RI challenges policy makers and aid agencies to improve their humanitarian response to humanitarian crises. RI's expert advocacy to senior officials of the U.S. Administration and Congress, the United Nations, foreign governments and aid organizations encourages the adoption of policies and implementation of programs to resolve crises and offer lifesaving solutions to refugees.

Since 1979, RI has advocated for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promoted solutions to displacement crises in more than 80 countries and counting. With such a track record for influencing public policy, RI has developed a time-tested strategy for continuing to serve the best interests of those displaced internally and across international borders by civil conflict and climate-related events. The fact that RI does not accept government funding simply makes the organization more effective as an advocate for the most vulnerable populations around the world – those displaced by conflict, persecution or natural disasters. Also, given that RI does not have operations in-country, field-based staff are able to speak honestly and fearlessly – sometimes criticizing foreign governments directly-- without concern for their security. RI spends two-three weeks in the field meeting with displaced men, women and children; and interviews government officials as well as meets with local humanitarian organizations. Upon return to the US, RI releases a detailed report that outlines proposed solutions and demands action. RI's expert recommendations are valued by the very people whose decisions bring immediate relief and lifesaving solutions to refugees and internally displaced people – the United Nations, the US Congress, senior officials of the U.S. Administration and governments around the world.

In 2014, RI achieved a number of successes advocating for improved humanitarian responses for displaced populations in countries across the globe. For example, the U.S. government announced nearly $51 million in humanitarian support to the Central African Republic and neighboring countries in addition to pledging an additional $291 million for South Sudan, five percent of which funds protections programs including those focused on gender-based violence. RI spoke out, and the United Nations deployed additional peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to protect vulnerable civilians. In the United Kingdom, the foreign aid agency responded to the lack of programs to address and prevent gender-based violence among displaced Syrians by providing £8.6 million in new funding. RI's targeted, high-level advocacy urges policymakers to act, and, in the end, get results. Of course, there is always more work to be done, given that the number of refugees and internally displaced people across the globe is at its highest level-- 60 million – since the United Nations began tracking these data (UNHCR 2014 Global Trends Report). This figure does not include the number of citizens affected by natural disasters, which is estimated at approximately 30 million. RI hopes to travel to more countries in 2015-2016 to make sure that the world keeps its promises to the most vulnerable men, women and children around the world.