Refugee rights

Displaced people across the world lack agency. Upinion combines methods to connect with people on the move, enabling it to follow the journey of refugees and migrants and to provide them with a space to share their experiences and recommendations regarding their new environment. Upinion believes in a holistic approach to engagement, bringing together insights from all displacement-affected populations, including the host communities.

The online community and Upinion and its partners have co-created advocacy strategies for enhanced refugee and migrant rights, fought against the forced and premature return of refugees to their home countries before conditions are in place, and strengthened social cohesion in Lebanon, Türkiye, Mauritania, Libya, and Greece.

  • Syrian Refugees’ perspectives on current developments around a EU-Lebanon migration “deal”

    Syrian Refugees’ perspectives on current developments around a EU-Lebanon migration “deal”

    Through a recent online conversation with 331 Syrian refugees in Lebanon, conducted via Upinion’s digital platform, we uncover their fears, safety concerns, and migration plans amidst this problematic deal. Their insights call for a reassessment of the recent plans for the EU-Lebanon migration deal, urging the EU and its member states to prioritise human rights…

  • Ukrainian refugees’ realities in Moldova and Poland two years on

    Ukrainian refugees’ realities in Moldova and Poland two years on

    At the start of this year, Upinion and the Norwegian Refugee Council engaged with refugees in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, marking two years since the war began. While we’ve previously shared perspectives from communities within Ukraine, we now present in-depth insights into the hardships of more than 1,100 refugees from Ukraine currently residing in Moldova…

  • A Conversation with and about Syrian refugees: Real-time engagement 22.02.2024

    A Conversation with and about Syrian refugees: Real-time engagement 22.02.2024

    “I hope everyone understands that Syrians only left their country in search of safety and do not wish to burden anyone. We have capabilities and should be treated with humanity and equality.” – Syrian female in Türkiye This sentiment was shared by one of Upinion’s community members who actively engaged during our recent event, ‘A…

  • Media Spotlight: Upinion’s report on Syrian refugees in Türkiye featured by Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Nieuwsblad

    Media Spotlight: Upinion’s report on Syrian refugees in Türkiye featured by Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Nieuwsblad

    One year after the earthquake in Türkiye, Upinion and its partner 11.11.11, the Belgian umbrella organisation of International Solidarity, show in a new report that the situation of Syrian refugees in Türkiye is alarming and requires immediate attention by the international community. It is rewarding to see the dialogue around Upinion’s research gaining traction in the…

  • One Year After the Earthquakes: the Situation of Syrian Refugees in Türkiye

    One Year After the Earthquakes: the Situation of Syrian Refugees in Türkiye

    This policy brief by 11.11.11 and Upinion presents the results of two online conversations conducted with Syrian refugees in Türkiye, in October 2023 and January 2024. It aims to highlights key concerns and needs that Syrians in Türkiye are dealing with, one year after the devastating earthquakes that struck Southern Türkiye and Northern Syria on…

  • Status of communication and information in Gaza

    Status of communication and information in Gaza

    In the midst of a frightful humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the dire need for immediate assistance cannot be overstated. The region is reeling from a scarcity of essentials, with over 1.1 million people in motion, their lives hanging in the balance. Water, food, fuel, and even basic medical supplies are alarmingly scarce. Yet,…

  • Global Refugee Forum 2023: Meaningful participation of refugees?

    Global Refugee Forum 2023: Meaningful participation of refugees?

    Susan Fratzke and Hannes Einsporn‘s article underscores the significance of refugee participation in policy decisions, especially during the 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF):  “The lack of participation of refugees and their organisations in how policies are made and programs are designed and delivered is an important barrier to more effective, efficient, and legitimate solutions”. At Upinion, we’re committed…

  • Political Goals over Moral Obligations: Europe’s Troubled Response in the Mediterranean

    The issue of irregular migration has plagued the Mediterranean region in recent years, with Libya serving as a major transit point for individuals desperately seeking safety, security, and livelihoods. However, despite the harrowing stories, countless deaths, and the deteriorating situation in Libya and other African countries, Europe’s response has been primarily focused on curbing migration…

  • Political Goals over Moral Obligations: Europe’s Troubled Response in the Mediterranean

    Political Goals over Moral Obligations: Europe’s Troubled Response in the Mediterranean

    🔎 New Blog Alert! ❕ So far this year, the Libyan Coast Guard has intercepted over 5,750 people, often subjecting them to torture, extortion, and sexual abuse in detention centers, as well as more than 1000 people lost their lives or went missing in the Mediterranean sea. Europe’s focus on restrictive measures raises concerns about…

  • Policy Brief – Assessing the Current Status of Syrian Refugees in Türkiye

    Policy Brief – Assessing the Current Status of Syrian Refugees in Türkiye

    Yesterday marked the first round of the 2023 General Elections in Türkiye, providing citizens with the chance to exercise their democratic right to vote. The political discourse leading up to the elections has taken a concerning turn, with Syrian refugees being scapegoated and even subjected to forced deportations to gain political points and direct voting…