Awake At Night A lifetime championing refugees, with Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Dec 19, 2025
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and humanitarian veteran, shares insights from his 30+ years advocating for displaced people. He emphasizes the importance of hope and home for refugees, particularly in Syria, while tackling the rise in displacement due to conflict and climate change. Grandi critiques divisive political rhetoric, praises Colombia's compassionate policies, and reflects on the emotional toll of humanitarian budget cuts. Looking forward, he expresses a desire to engage in climate action and youth storytelling.
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Failure To Secure Political Solutions
- The world has become unable to make peace, causing a near-doubling of displaced people over decades.
- Divided powerful states and a paralyzed Security Council have allowed conflicts to proliferate and persist.
Refugees Often 'Vote' For Peace
- When conflict lessens, refugees often return quickly, showing peace creates immediate movement.
- Syria's recent returns and Afghanistan's earlier returns illustrate that people 'vote for peace' by going home.
Reject Simplistic Anti-Migrant Politics
- Avoid xenophobic rhetoric and simplistic measures because they don't solve mobility challenges.
- Address human mobility with rational, collective policies that unpack complex causes and deliver durable solutions.