On June 20, we marked World Refugee Day. We celebrated the courage and contributions of refugees and recognise the extraordinary generosity of Uganda’s host communities.
Under the leadership of the Government of Uganda and the coordination of the Office of the Prime Minister through the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, Uganda has become a global example of how refugee protection, self-reliance and development can go hand-in-hand.
However, as global humanitarian needs outpace shrinking international funding, women and girls disproportionately suffer the consequences. Historically, they are the first to lose vital access to education, reproductive health care, and protection against gender-based violence. This must not become the new normal.
For a pregnant woman living in a refugee settlement, access to a skilled midwife and local health facilities can mean the difference between life and death. For a survivor of gender-based violence, timely health care and psychosocial support provide a pathway to healing and recovery. For adolescent girls, access to education, information and health services helps protect their rights and unlock their potential. These are investments in human dignity, resilience and hope.
While new refugees continue to arrive in Uganda due to ongoing conflict, the situation is also increasingly protracted, which – in combination with reduced funding – necessitates solutions that go beyond short-term responses. The Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus provides a pathway to weather the storm of shrinking resources by linking immediate lifesaving assistance with investments in national systems, social cohesion, and opportunities for young people. Under the leadership of the Government of Uganda, and with support from Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and the Netherlands, large-scale programmes are demonstrating how this vision can be translated into action. These programmes together with humanitarian and development objectives, strengthen health systems, empower adolescents and young people, prevent gender-based violence and harmful practices, and expand access to quality sexual and reproductive health services for refugees and host communities alike.
Through investments in frontline health workers, youth empowerment initiatives, stronger referral systems and enhanced capacities of national and district institutions, some of these programmes are helping to ensure that immediate humanitarian gains are translated into lasting development outcomes. By investing simultaneously in people, institutions and communities, they contribute to greater resilience, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
Importantly, the benefits of these investments extend far beyond the immediate crisis. Women and girls who can safely give birth, complete their education, live free from violence and exercise their rights are better equipped to contribute to their families, communities and societies. The dividends are lifelong and intergenerational. Investing in women and girls is therefore not only a humanitarian imperative, but also a strategic investment in human capital, economic development and peace.
As the humanitarian system undergoes important reforms, efforts to improve efficiency, strengthen localisation and enhance sustainability are both necessary and welcome. But efficiency must never come at the expense of the most vulnerable. Reproductive health services, maternal care and protection from gender-based violence are not secondary considerations. They are essential foundations for sustainable development and peace.
World Refugee Day reminds us that solidarity is measured not only by the doors we open, but by our collective commitment to ensuring that hope, dignity and opportunity endure. In an era of constrained resources, our challenge is clear: to deepen partnerships, strengthen systems and ensure that refugee women and girls are not left behind, but are empowered to live healthy, safe and dignified lives.
Because investing in their health, dignity and rights is not only the right thing to do. It is an investment in stronger communities, human capital, more resilient societies and a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.