October 10, 2022 at 7:30PM UTC+2

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced that Dr. Angela Merkel, the former Federal Chancellor of Germany, will receive the 2022 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.

In bestowing the Nansen Refugee Award on Angela Merkel, UNHCR recognizes the strength of conviction needed to take political leadership in moments of crisis.  Angela Merkel made a difficult decision in the face of strong opposition, which helped save the lives of more than 1 million refugees and asylum-seekers.  She not only accepted Syrian refugees but also put in place the policies and support that allowed them to rebuild their lives safely while supporting the German economy.  In championing Germany’s support for refugees on the world stage, Angela Merkel helped highlight the plight of refugees globally.

As the UNCHR continues to deal with pushbacks and regressive policies limiting or externalizing refugee asylum today, Angela Merkel’s actions are an important reminder…