The World Refugee & Migration Council, made up of 33 global leaders from all regions of the world, offers bold, strategic thinking on the international system of refugee protection in light of global challenges.

We are issuing this statement because the challenges facing the system are unprecedented and far-reaching. The international refugee and migration regime — one of the critical pillars of the post-war international rules-based order — is crumbling before our very eyes with global implications.

Those demolishing the regime are the very same democratic states who built it out of the ashes of the Second World War. Their actions are being driven by right wing populism, public sentiment that is hostile to those who are poor and in search of a better life, and an unwillingness on the part of more moderate voices to defend key democratic and human rights norms and principles.

We welcome United States-born Pope Leo XIV's first address to world diplomats stressing the importance of respecting the dignity of migrants, picking up the mantra of his predecessor Pope Francis in calling for passion and solidarity with those seeking a better life.

His statement is especially important in light of recent decisions made by many democratic countries that are undermining the international refugee and migration regime.

Cavalier and ill-considered funding cuts are already impacting key institutions, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which may have to dismiss a major portion of its total workforce, 6,000 or more people, the World Food Programme and the UN Migration Agency (IOM).

Our Council urges the following actions: