World Refugee Day 2025: Health for All – Solidarity with Refugees

Observed annually on June 20th, World Refugee Day is a global call to recognize health as a fundamental human right—one that is especially critical for the world's over 123 million forcibly displaced people. Since 2001, World Refugee Day has celebrated the strength and courage of those forced to flee war, violence, or persecution and has advocated for their right to safety, dignity, and inclusion.

The 2025 theme, “Health for All: Solidarity with Refugees,” underscores the urgent need for universal, resilient, and inclusive health systems that leave no one behind. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other global partners stress that the right to health is essential not only for personal dignity but also for the cohesive protection and integration of refugees in their host societies.

Refugee crises are growing more protracted, with many spending a decade or more in uncertain situations, seeking legal recognition and safety. Over 70% of refugees are hosted in low- and middle-income countries, often in urban environments burdened by their own economic and social challenges. Over 47 million displaced children experience disruptions in health, education, and protection services. Women and newborns are at increased risk owing to gaps in maternal and essential care. Many, lacking basic healthcare, are placed in ongoing danger that undermines their prospects for safety and well-being.

Once they reach their destinations, refugees remain among the most vulnerable members of society. Challenges extend beyond the legal and economic; refugees face substantial public health barriers—from interrupted care and inadequate access to services, to disproportionate rates of physical and mental health issues.

Refugees are not just recipients in need of care—they can be contributors, such as scientists, healthcare workers, teachers, and civic leaders whose expertise enriches both host communities and those they leave behind. However, discrimination, stigmatization, and shrinking humanitarian budgets continue to marginalize these communities and endanger access to vital services, including mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), maternal health, and primary care.

In recognition of World Refugee Day 2025, Frontiers in Public Health is launching this Research Topic on public health challenges faced by refugees and their host countries. We welcome research that addresses, but is not limited to, the following themes:

o Health issues affecting refugees before, during, and after their journey;

o Mental health challenges and effective approaches for support and treatment;

o Public health education, communication, and promotion tailored to refugee populations;

o Policies and interventions that increase refugees’ access to healthcare and address public health emergencies;

o Strategies for equity, prevention, and integration, at local, national, or global scales;

o Data-informed solutions for improving health outcomes and tracking progress in refugee health;

o Invest in equitable, evidence-based, and cross-border solutions to build resilient health systems;

o Generate and utilize data to better design responsive public health policies;

o Strengthen and diversify the health workforce for culturally-sensitive and inclusive care.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: world refugee day, refugees, solidarity with refugees, universal health care, inclusivity, mental health, equitable access, health emergencies, equity

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.