2025: CompASSION OVER FEAR
Shifting the narrative: some of our Ambassadors and Trainees
By Rishan, Media Ambassador
As the year draws to a close, it’s a natural moment for reflection: on challenges faced, lessons learned and the path forward. For many of us, this year has been marked by personal growth, but for countless refugees and asylum seekers, 2024 has been yet another chapter in a seemingly unending struggle for safety, dignity and belonging. The ongoing refugee crisis has reached new levels of urgency, which emphasises the need for safe and legal routes and compassionate action.
A year of crisis and loss
The year was marked by tragic events that exposed the desperate measures refugees are forced to take.
From the heartbreaking deaths in the English Channel (more than 50 people lost their lives, including children as young as two and seven, and a pregnant woman), to the escalating crisis across the Middle East and beyond, the global refugee situation has only worsened.
These tragedies serve as stark reminders of the human cost of inaction. Lives lost at sea, families torn apart and young people left vulnerable to exploitation underscore the urgent need for policies that prioritise humanity over rhetoric.
Acknowledging the problem is not enough if we fail to provide solutions for vulnerable people seeking safety on our shores. In a recent BBC interview (15 December 2024), Home Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged that the number of "dangerous" small boat Channel crossings remains "far too high." However, she refused to commit to a specific timetable for reducing these dangerous journeys. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c205n3gpd62o
Despite promises, the UK has yet to deliver the safe and legal routes that could prevent such losses. Initiatives like the Dubs Amendment and the Dublin III Regulations - once lifelines for unaccompanied children and families - have disappeared without replacement. The absence of these pathways leaves refugees with no choice but to turn to dangerous, unregulated routes, often falling prey to traffickers.
Humanitarian visas: a compassionate solution
The introduction of humanitarian visas could change this sad reality. Humanitarian Visas would provide a safe, legal avenue for vulnerable individuals - especially unaccompanied young people and those seeking family reunification - to seek asylum without risking their lives. Such a system aligns with the UN Refugee Convention’s call to prioritise the most at-risk populations and has proven effective in other countries, like Australia.
Humanitarian visas are not just about saving lives; they are about reaffirming the UK’s commitment to human rights and its role as a global leader in compassion and justice. Implementing this system could be done within a controlled framework, ensuring that it complements the government’s broader immigration policies while addressing the immediate needs of those fleeing persecution and conflict.
Shifting the narrative
Beyond policy, there is an urgent need to change how refugees are perceived and discussed in public discourse. This year saw an alarming rise in divisive rhetoric and violent protests, fueled by years of dehumanising narratives. Refugees have been unfairly portrayed as “undeserving” or a “burden,” a narrative that strips them of their humanity and their stories of resilience and survival.
But 2024 also brought moments of hope: acts of kindness from strangers, communities rallying to help refugee organisations (including those wonderful people who offered us support during the summer unrest) and young refugees speaking up for their rights.
Looking Ahead
As we step into a new year, there is a chance to turn reflection into action. The introduction of humanitarian visas and the rejection of hateful narratives are not lofty ideals - they are achievable goals. But achieving them will require courage and leadership from policymakers, as well as continued solidarity from communities.
And we look forward to seeing Baroness Hamwee’s Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill pass through Parliament. This important legislation will give hope to - and benefit - many.
Let 2025 be a year of change: a year when the UK not only confronts the refugee crisis but leads the way in offering solutions rooted in humanity and justice. For the young refugees dreaming of a better future, for the families torn apart by conflict and for the lives we can still save, let this be the year we choose compassion over fear and action over apathy.
Together, we can make the UK a place where everyone has the opportunity to belong, to contribute, and to thrive. Here’s to a better year ahead: for refugees, for communities, and for a world where hope prevails.