75th Anniversary of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

The 28 July 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees - the cornerstone of international refugee protection. For 75 years, the convention has helped save lives, protect rights and provide a framework through which millions of refugees have found safety, rebuilt their lives and contributed to the communities that welcomed them.

These vintage photographs, dating back to the last century, stand as powerful testimony to the compassion and solidarity of the Government of Armenia and the Armenian people with refugees. They also capture the dedication of humanitarians - front-line social workers and care-givers, nurses and doctors, and UNHCR colleagues who spared no effort to warmly welcome and support refugees arriving in Armenia in search of safety and a new beginning.

For more than three decades, Armenia has provided protection and support to those forced to flee their homes. Over the past 33 years, refugees arriving in Armenia have found not only safety, but also a community ready to help them rebuild their lives. With the generosity of the Armenian people, and the support of the international community, many refugees have transformed uncertainty into opportunity, hardship into resilience, and hope into aspiration.

As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and we at UNHCR look back on 33 years of standing with refugees in Armenia, these images remind us that behind every legal commitment lies a deeply human story of courage, compassion, and resilience. these images remind us that refugee protection is not only a legal obligation but also a profoundly human act. They reflect Armenia's enduring tradition of hospitality and reaffirm our shared commitment to ensuring that those forced to flee can find safety, dignity, and the opportunity to build a brighter future.

This anniversary is a moment to look back, but also to look forward and to strengthen the shared commitment, action and solidarity with and for refugees.