site.btaUNHCR Representative Kuzucu: Refugees Can Contribute to Society If Given Chance

Refugees and forcibly displaced persons can contribute to society if given the chance, said Seda Kuzucu, UNHCR Representative in Bulgaria, during a forum on forcibly displaced persons and their contribution to the host country. 

The forum, held at the Vrana Royal Palace, is organized by PanEuropa Bulgaria, UNHCR Bulgaria and the Liberal Institute for Political Analyses (LIPA).

The UN agency and our partners are ready to support Bulgaria, Kuzucu said. Forcibly displaced persons can contribute to their host society in a variety of ways, she added. She highlighted several important topics to the participants of the forum, including the economic aspect of integration, overcoming language barriers and the importance of education and access to it. 

These people bring resilience and can add value to the societies that have taken them in, Kuzucu noted.

According to the organizers, after the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, more than 193,000 people received temporary protection in Bulgaria. As the EU's external border, Bulgaria plays a crucial role in refugee protection and receives displaced persons not only from Ukraine but also from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan. However, Bulgaria remains one of the few EU countries without a national integration policy. This event aims to highlight the importance of inclusive policies that enable refugees to fully exercise their rights and actively contribute to the communities that host them. Genuine integration takes place within the community, fostering mutual development and resilience that enrich both refugees and their host societies, said the organizers.