Peregraf – Barham Salih has issued his first statement after being elected as the new United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), vowing to place refugees’ rights, dignity, and durable solutions at the center of his mandate amid record global displacement.
In a statement following his election, Salih said he was “honoured” to take on the role, noting that his personal experience as a former refugee would shape his leadership approach. “As a former refugee, I know first-hand how protection and opportunity can change the course of a life,” he said, adding that this experience would inform a leadership style grounded in empathy, pragmatism, and a principled commitment to international law.
Salih stressed that his foremost responsibility would be to refugees and others forced to flee, emphasizing the need to uphold their rights and advance long-term solutions. “Displacement must remain a temporary situation, not a permanent fate,” he said.
Addressing the broader global context, Salih highlighted the unprecedented scale of forced displacement worldwide and the severe strain on humanitarian resources. He said delivering on UNHCR’s mandate would require a renewed focus on impact, accountability, and efficiency, describing refugee protection as a “shared responsibility” among the international community.
He pledged to build on reforms undertaken by UNHCR in recent years to strengthen operational effectiveness and ensure better value for money, while working closely with member states and partners across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to mobilize resources and political will.
Salih also expressed gratitude to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN General Assembly for their confidence, and paid tribute to outgoing High Commissioner Filippo Grandi for his leadership during what he described as a period of “extraordinary global challenge.”
“I look forward to working closely with UNHCR’s dedicated staff, states, partners, host communities, and, most importantly, refugees themselves,” Salih said, “to advance protection and durable solutions fit for both the promise and the perils of the 21st century.”