‘Crossing New Seas’ Oration highlights responsibility to welcome and protect

When international lawyer Emeritus Prof Gillian Triggs AC stepped up to the lectern at the inaugural Kildare Ministries Crossing New Seas Oration on 18 March 2025, she brought with her decades of experience in human rights law and refugee protection. Her message was urgent: we are facing a global displacement crisis of unprecedented scale, and our response must be one of shared responsibility, practical solutions and, above all, humanity and compassion.

The numbers alone are staggering. More than 125 million people worldwide are seeking protection, whether as refugees, asylum seekers or those internally displaced within their own countries. Of these, 43.4 million are formally recognised as asylum seekers and refugees. The largest group, however, comprises the 68 million people displaced within their own borders, their plight often overlooked.

‘This crisis is not new, but the scale and complexity are unprecedented’, said Prof Triggs, who has served as Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (including as Assistant High Commissioner for Protection from 2019 to 2023) and as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2012 to 2017. She explained that over the past decade, displacement has tripled due to a complex interplay of factors: war, political instability, persecution, climate change and failing governance. She said the overwhelming reason people flee their homes, however, is violence.

The international regime for peace through the United Nations and human rights laws has been up-ended and challenged in unimaginable ways.

‘Overwhelmingly, 123 million people who are refugees, or internally displaced, are pushed out of their homes by violence—by war and conflict,’ she said. This violence takes many forms—wars, persecution, racial and religious discrimination, criminal gangs and, increasingly, the effects of climate change.

‘We live in an unstable, volatile world, where the international regime for peace through the United Nations and human rights laws has been up-ended and challenged in unimaginable ways.’

Addressing the large crowd gathered in the chapel of Star of the Sea College, Brighton, Prof Triggs said that sadly, while displacement grows, many nations are retreating from their commitments to social justice and human rights, and the need to protect those forced to flee, prioritising security over sanctuary. Borders are closing, she said; asylum claims are being denied, and the fundamental principle that refugees should not be returned to danger is increasingly under threat.

The human cost of inaction

Currently, according to Prof Triggs, the United Nations Refugee Agency has declared 43 emergencies in 29 countries worldwide. The consequences of this are dire. Displaced people across the globe face worsening conditions: millions have fled war in Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Ukraine, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries that are already overwhelmed. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the mass displacement of civilians. Meanwhile, conflicts in Mozambique and Myanmar continue to see large numbers of refugees forced to flee their homelands.

In some cases, the situation has deteriorated in places where peace once seemed possible. Sudan, she said, ‘was a poster child when [I was] working for UNHCR five-to-six years ago. We had the Peace Agreement; we felt that peace was working and … the president at the time received the Nobel Peace Prize. And now, of course, we see the impact of war in Sudan, and similarly the eruption of conflict in South Sudan, another country where we’d thought there’d been a real chance of peace.’

The reality is that it’s very, very difficult to return a person to Venezuela, to Iran, to many of the countries that continue to be war-torn.

Wealthier nations, rather than expanding their support, are instead shifting the responsibility for refugee protection onto developing countries, she said. ‘We’ve seen the shifting of responsibility for asylum seekers and refugees to typically poor, developing countries.’ Countries like Uganda and Chad, which already face enormous economic challenges, continue to take in large numbers of displaced people while receiving minimal international support. Iran is the world’s largest refugee-hosting country (accepting 3.8 million people), and those fleeing Syria have been welcomed in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. ‘It doesn’t always fit the global image of these countries,’ said Prof Triggs, ‘but they are very, very important in welcoming the stranger.’

Towards practical solutions

Despite these challenges, Prof Triggs believes there are practical solutions, the first being to face up to the reality of the situation and the root causes. ‘The refugee/asylum system is now described or seen as broken,’ she said. ‘The reality is that it’s very, very difficult to return a person to Venezuela, to Iran, to many of the countries that continue to be war-torn.’

One key framework that seeks to address this is the Global Compact on Refugees, a 2018 agreement endorsed by 181 states. It operates on the basis that about 75 per cent of refugees and people on the move are posted to low- to middle-income countries. The compact calls for a more predictable and equitable sharing of the responsibilities and protections for refugees between hosting nations and the international community, including community and faith groups from around the world, private businesses and enterprise, refugee organisations, NGOs, universities, scholars, parliamentarians, banks and other financial institutions that can invest in the affected regions.

‘We have to find ways to stabilise [displaced people] within their own countries as best we can,’ said Prof Triggs. ‘The compact is not a legal document, but it’s very important, and … it provides a pathway for solutions which are long-term.’

Investment in development is another crucial step. Prof Triggs explained that the World Bank and other financial institutions have provided more than $20 billion in grants to refugee-hosting countries, funding infrastructure projects that strengthen governance, create jobs and support local economies. She also pointed to the situation in Kenya, where longstanding refugee camps are being transformed into functioning cities, offering displaced people an opportunity to build new lives rather than languish in indefinite limbo.

‘The World Bank’s services come to the camp, and they ensure access to social security numbers to set up a bank account. That means there are opportunities for microfinancing to enable the community or young families to have a relationship with the local communities, to integrate and to build businesses. These funds are now increasingly available, and importantly, it’s engaging the private sector.’

The local communities, particularly the faith communities, are always there. They will remain a mainstay for a human and compassionate approach.

Beyond investment, Prof Triggs emphasised the importance of looking at the entire journey of a refugee, not just their arrival at a border. For instance, instead of waiting until people reach Europe, the United States or Australia, she said support should be provided along migration routes to ensure safe passage and prevent exploitation. A successful example of this approach was seen in Ukraine, where ‘Blue Dot’ centres were established at key border crossings to offer refugees essential information, legal pathways, and protection from traffickers. ‘This idea can help to stabilise people and give them information they need, so that they can find a “regular” route.

‘I don’t want to use the word “illegal” because it’s not illegal if you’re seeking international protection,’ she said, ‘so we try to use the words “a regular route”.’

The role of communities and faith groups

Prof Triggs highlighted the role of faith communities, such as Kildare Ministries, in providing support on the ground, particularly when government funding runs out. She said, ‘The local communities, particularly the faith communities, are always there. They will remain a mainstay for a human and compassionate approach. They will remain open to welcoming the stranger.’

It was a sentiment reinforced by the large number of representatives at the oration from across the Kildare Ministries community, including the Brigidine and Presentation Sisters, its schools, its community works, and representatives from its mission agencies, the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project, Saltbush Balnarring Beach and Wellsprings for Women.

The real compassion and humanity and protection for people who need protection lie at the local level.

Prof Triggs emphasised the broader need for political and legal reform. Australia, she pointed out, remains one of the few Commonwealth nations without a federal human rights act, a factor that has enabled policies such as offshore detention to be implemented without legal challenges.

In conclusion, Prof Triggs said, ‘there are no easy solutions to the global displacement crisis’, but she remains hopeful. Addressing the root causes of forced migration, investing in long-term development and fostering global cooperation are all critical steps.

‘We need to focus on root causes; we need political will, but by political will, I mean not only at the most senior levels, but at the local level,’ she said. ‘Because one of the things I’ve learnt in my work over the last few years has been the real compassion and humanity and protection for people who need protection lie at the local level.’

Her final words left the audience with a challenge: ‘I hope you’ve been “positively disturbed”, but I hope you’ve also been stimulated to some action, to advocacy and to compassion for people who certainly need our help.’