The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the UN agency mandated to protect and support refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and internally displaced people. Established in 1950, UNHCR works to ensure the right to seek asylum, provides humanitarian aid, and facilitates long-term solutions such as resettlement, local integration, or voluntary repatriation. The committee operates in accordance with the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, advocating for international cooperation to uphold refugee rights and address forced displacement caused by conflicts, persecution, and disasters. ​

This year’s agenda, "Addressing Xenophobia and Promoting Asylum for Refugees During Global Mass Migration Crises," examines the rising hostility towards refugees, the impact of restrictive asylum policies, and the double standards applied in refugee protection. With displacement at record levels, refugees increasingly encounter hostility, discrimination, and restrictive immigration policies. Growing xenophobic sentiments in host countries threaten refugee protection, restricting asylum access and challenging international commitments to human rights and humanitarian principles. ​

This agenda is not just a theoretical debate, it represents the reality of millions who have been forced from their homes, many of whom face discrimination, violence, and legal uncertainty on a daily basis. Refugees are not statistics; they are real people who have fled war, persecution, and instability in search of a future. They are expected to debate with purpose, empathy, and responsibility, while balancing humanitarian needs with national interests and international obligations. Ultimately, discussions must go beyond rhetoric, fostering strategies that uphold refugee rights and promote global solidarity.