Shortly before the United Nations celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees on July 28, the validity of this document is seriously threatened. The main risk factors include the collapse of humanitarian financial support, a decrease in resettlement efforts, and a growing trend of governments refusing to accept people seeking protection.
});The International Rescue Committee (IRC), founded in 1933 at the suggestion of physicist Albert Einstein, has warned about this situation. According to the IRC, more than 50 million individuals have been forced to leave their homes and depend on the protections established by the Convention. This number is aggravated by a drop of over 27 billion euros in verified humanitarian funding last year and a reduction of more than half of global resettlement commitments.
This deterioration affects both original signatory countries and other nations, as many governments are limiting integration programs as the flow of fleeing people increases. A recent report by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), released at the end of June, indicates that about 118 million people are refugees or forcibly displaced globally. Although UNHCR noted a reduction in the number of refugees in 2025—an unprecedented event in a decade—the organization considers current levels to remain 'dramatically high.'
The defense of the need to protect those fleeing persecution and conflict was articulated for the first time by a scientist. Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian polar explorer and diplomat, was appointed in 1921 as the first High Commissioner for Refugees within the League of Nations, the predecessor to the UN. After World War I (1914-1918) and the Russian Revolution of 1917, millions were displaced in Europe, many stateless, as governments like the Soviet Union revoked the citizenship of their opponents abroad.
Nansen realized that charity was not enough for refugees, who, without a valid passport, could not work, travel legally, or establish residence. Therefore, he advocated for the creation of legal norms that would oblige countries to guarantee minimum civil rights. He developed the first internationally recognized identity and travel document for refugees, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922.
After his death in 1930, the humanitarian office he led continued its work, culminating in the 1933 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees under the auspices of the League of Nations. This document introduced, for the first time, the guarantee of non-refoulement for refugees at risk in Europe. This milestone served as the basis for the UN to promulgate the current 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees after World War II.
David Miliband, President of the IRC, emphasizes that the Convention represents a promise made during one of the darkest periods in history: 'No one fleeing persecution should be returned to danger. This promise remains as vital today as it was in 1951.' Over the past 75 years, the Convention has helped millions rebuild their lives, reunite with family, and contribute to host communities.
Miliband concludes that this anniversary should be a moment to celebrate the successes of the Convention, defend what works, and correct flaws, stressing that 'the question is not whether solutions exist, but whether governments have the political courage to implement them.' Currently, 149 nations are signatories to at least one of the two fundamental legal instruments: the 1951 Convention or its 1967 Protocol, which expanded the scope beyond Europe. Portugal has a distinct historical trajectory regarding the 1951 Convention, marked by two distinct political phases: initial approval under the Estado Novo regime and full implementation and modernization after April 25th.
The government of António de Oliveira Salazar approved adherence to the treaty in October 1960, with ratification deposited with the UN in December. However, following the original 1951 text, Portugal applied the geographical restriction, committing only to refugees in European territory. Only after the fall of the dictatorship and the colonial empire in 1976 did the country fully integrate into the international humanitarian system. Today, the State actively supports the institutional autonomy of UNHCR, promoting reception and combating discrimination, and actively participates in European Union relocation schemes, receiving asylum seekers from critical Mediterranean areas and unaccompanied minors.
A marketing campaign by a Johannesburg cafe that used provocative content on social media to promote its evening menu sparked widespread public outcry. The discussion centered on issues of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual harassment, as well as whether brands are crossing a line by using sensitive social issues to gain attention.
The initial post from Naked Coffee, located in Illovo, Johannesburg, was framed as an 'open letter' to a customer who allegedly made repeated comments about a 'sausage' to a waiter. The message from Naked Coffee stated: 'Sexual advances toward our staff will not be tolerated. Open letter to a customer who kept asking our waiter about a sausage at Naked Illovo After Dark around 7 PM.'
The cafe clarified that the remarks were directed at the same employee and that the worker's identity would remain confidential. The post read: 'Madam, you asked many times. Each time it was directed at the same waiter, whose identity we cannot disclose for confidentiality reasons. While we can acknowledge that many of our staff look good naked, this does not justify your indecent behavior.'
The publication then described the alleged interaction before transitioning to advertising the cafe's evening menu. Naked Coffee added: 'What is most shocking is that you asked him to demonstrate the size of the said sausage. As for the sausage, we do not want to disappoint you. The sausage is strictly a breakfast item and is not served after dark.'
Nevertheless, the campaign faced massive criticism. Some social media users accused the cafe of using themes related to sexual harassment and GBV as a marketing tool. Following this, Naked Coffee published an apology through its social media channels.
Gender violence activist Tiwana Mudli criticized the campaign, stating that while creative advertising can push boundaries, it must have a meaningful purpose. Food content creator Nikki Barber also questioned the cafe's response after the negative wave, arguing that the apology seemed to shift responsibility onto the audience rather than addressing the issues with the campaign itself.
Barber noted: 'Another thing is that they said: 'Well, sorry if you misinterpreted the joke.' So, they almost made it everyone's problem in terms of understanding, instead of the real problem, which was the topic they decided to joke about.'
In her view, the issue was not whether people understood the joke, but the decision to mock a sensitive topic. Barber added that she did not find the apology sincere. She also expressed concern about how the apology was disseminated, noting that the cafe's decision not to keep the original campaign or the apology visible contributed to public dissatisfaction.
Mudli emphasized that the campaign was particularly problematic because sexual harassment is a real issue for many people, including service industry workers. As a survivor of sexual violence, she stated: 'I do not find this campaign funny. I know what it is like to ignore your boundaries while someone else laughs.'
She also pointed out that hospitality workers often face harassment from customers while feeling pressured to remain professional. Mudli explained: 'Hospitality workers, especially young employees, often face harassment from customers. It is unpleasant and humiliating, but people endure it because their job depends on maintaining politeness.'
The activist concluded that brands need to consider the broader social context before using controversial topics to attract attention. She stressed: 'Good copy doesn't just grab attention; it understands context. There is a big difference between making people laugh and normalizing behavior that countless people already tolerate every day.'
Salma, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, was surprised when her manager sent a message to the employee WhatsApp group chat demanding recognition of the ban on speaking Arabic in the store.
The 19-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel and her colleagues found this absurd and ignored the notification. However, the next day they became afraid of their manager and decided to remain silent. The situation changed when one of the colleagues briefly spoke Arabic while carrying a box to the storeroom, using the Hebrew word for 'storeroom,' which clearly indicated a work environment.
In response, the manager flared up, started shouting, kicking boxes, and stated that they were forbidden from speaking Arabic. He said: 'This is a Jewish state. We speak only Hebrew here. Arabic stays at home.'
Salma's experience is one of many cases reported by Palestinian workers in recent months. They claim that they are being forbidden to speak Arabic in workplaces. Complaints are coming from hospitals, pharmacies, and retail stores.
A recent incident occurred at a Good Pharm branch in Jaffa. Local media published messages on WhatsApp where the manager allegedly threatened employees who spoke languages other than Hebrew, claiming that hearing Arabic might scare away customers traumatized by the events of October 7. Good Pharm stated that it hires and serves people from all walks of life, is committed to equality, and will review the manager's behavior within the company. Nevertheless, Palestinian workers note that little has changed.
In Salma's case, all the store employees were Palestinians, and the manager was the only Jewish Israeli. She reported that the ban remained in effect even after the store closed and there were no customers. Salma shared that she had heard about racism before, but only now understood what it meant—when you are treated badly simply because of your identity.
After protests by several employees, they were denied shifts for about two months, after which they were offered transfers to remote branches. Salma noted that instead of firing or holding the manager accountable, the company preferred to ask them to change jobs. Despite the retailer claiming condemnation of racism and discrimination, Salma feels this experience left a deep mark on her. She also added that as she prepares for university admission, she feels more anxiety about entering another predominantly Jewish environment.
Palestinian citizens of Israel are the indigenous population of historic Palestine, who remained after Zionist militias displaced about 750,000 Palestinians during the Nakba in 1948 to create the State of Israel. Today, this community numbers about two million people, making up approximately 20 percent of Israel's population. Since October 2023, they have faced an increase in arrests, disciplinary proceedings, and job losses due to political statements concerning genocide in Gaza.
Lawyers believe that the cases regarding workplace incidents that become known constitute only a small fraction of the total number of occurrences. In their opinion, what has changed is not the existence of discrimination itself, but the confidence with which it is expressed. Alia Zoabi, a lawyer specializing in labor law, told Middle East Eye that most cases coming to her office from Jewish workplaces are related to racism, and there is a significant increase in such cases.
Zoabi cited an example where a young Palestinian employee suffered a panic attack after months of discriminatory treatment by his manager. An ambulance was called, but the employer sent the woman to the hospital alone. In another case, a pregnant Palestinian employee was fired without legally required permission.
In 2018, Israel adopted the controversial Nation-State Law, which declared Hebrew the sole official language of the state, demoting Arabic to a language of 'special status.' Although the law maintained the practical use of Arabic in public services, education, and public navigation, Palestinians argue that pressure to express their identity has increased since then.
According to Zoabi, the legal problem often lies not in recognizing discrimination, but in proving the employer's motive to the standard required by courts. Israeli employment equality law prohibits discrimination based on nationality, race, and religion, but it does not explicitly guarantee the unlimited right to use any language in any workplace.
Alia Zoabi, a Palestinian lawyer, stated: 'When I stand in court, I feel like both a lawyer and a client.' Legal experts believe that a complete ban on the Arabic language, especially in private conversations or where Hebrew is not required for work, could constitute illegal discrimination. Zoabi added that formal legal protection means little when its application is slow, expensive, and uncertain. She also noted that since October 7, there has been leniency towards their cases, as lawsuits worth tens of thousands of shekels often end in settlements for only a small fraction of that amount. The financial risk deters both workers and lawyers from filing lawsuits, even if employees consider the discrimination obvious. Both Salma and the Good Pharm employee ultimately abandoned plans to sue after being advised that the cases would be long, costly, and difficult to prove. Zoabi concluded: 'As a Palestinian woman in Israel, I also experience this racism.'
A large-scale fire forced the evacuation of 220 thousand people, among whom were about 3000 Portuguese nationals and individuals of Portuguese descent. These people primarily resided in the commune of Le Porz, located in the Gironde department, where the fire engulfed several houses.
Portuguese nationals and descendants residing in settlements such as Ares, Marsheim, Mios, Chestas, Biscarross, Les Ayans, and Saint-Médard-en-Jalles were also relocated.
These Portuguese nationals and descendants were brought to the Bordeaux Exhibition Center. Philip Dantas reported that Portuguese authorities are monitoring the situation, and the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Emidio Souza, has already held a phone conversation with the consul.
The Portuguese consulate in Bordeaux is also tracking the fire and its impact on the local community, Dantas noted. He added that no casualties have been reported so far, and the material damage has not yet been calculated.
Regarding the potential need for assistance for these Portuguese nationals and descendants, the consul stated that the towns near the reception centers have already provided immediate support. He emphasized: 'We are here to help, and if any assistance is required, we will report it.'
The fire started on Thursday in the Arcachon Bay tourist area, and starting Friday, Portuguese nationals and descendants began moving to temporary accommodation centers. The French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, confirmed that 115 thousand hectares of land were destroyed in France this year, which is a historic high.
French President Emmanuel Macron is chairing an emergency meeting today to assess the situation with forest fires in the country.
