Building the future of global refugee protection sustainably, inclusively, and equitably
by: Jon Feltham, Executive Director
Think about the life of a refugee in the current world order. What comes to mind?
For me, the image lies in plain sight. We see it in the daily flood of messages we receive from refugees stranded in overburdened host countries, suspended in a state of uncertainty. Their pleas are urgent, often desperate. But it’s the messages from the most vulnerable — girls, women, and LGBTQIA+ individuals that strike deepest. Their supplications reflect the terrifying prospect of being forced back to places where their very identities place them in danger, gender-based violence and persecution are the norm, and survival is never guaranteed.
This year’s World Refugee Day compels us to reflect on the lives of millions of displaced people caught amidst intensifying geopolitical tensions, climate-driven conflicts, rising fragility, conflict and violence, and looming deportations threatening to upend their hard-earned livelihoods and imperil their return to countries on the brink of humanitarian disasters.
Three years ago, when I joined Aman Lara as a veteran who served in Afghanistan, I felt a deep obligation to the interpreters, drivers, and other local staff who risked everything to support Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. Our purpose was clear: help those who had stood alongside Canada find safety and rebuild their lives in welcoming communities. But even then, we knew evacuation alone wasn’t enough. Real, lasting impact would require comprehensive, long-term solutions.
Today, Aman Lara is reaching further — setting bolder targets, deepening our commitment, and expanding what’s possible for those seeking protection and dignity.
At Aman Lara, we believe the most meaningful outcomes of refugee support come from a holistic, sustained approach — one that meets urgent needs while paving the way for long-term opportunity, dignity, and belonging.
Our work spans four interconnected pillars. Together, these pillars reflect our commitment to ensuring that every person forced to flee has not only the right to safety but also the opportunity to thrive with purpose, identity, and a sense of belonging.
Towards a multisectoral and contextualized refugee response
Addressing today’s displacement crises requires a multisectoral approach that is tailored, contextualized, and responsive to the evolving needs of refugees. Forced displacement is increasingly a protracted phenomenon, rooted in complex and overlapping crises that are often conflict or disaster-induced. The refugee experience is not uniform. Gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and other identity factors profoundly influence an individual’s risk and access to protection.
Notably, women and children are disproportionately impacted by forced displacement and face increased risks of exploitation and abuse, while LGBTQ,+ individuals have unique vulnerabilities that exacerbate their persecution and marginalization.
Likewise, local staff who supported Canadian military and diplomatic missions face acute risks, not only because of their professional affiliation, but often compounded by their identity, ethnicity, or political associations. These individuals stood alongside Canada in times of crisis.
To date, Canada has left thousands of these individuals without resolution, despite their loyal service. Three years later, they face threats to their lives simply for having done so, and their protection must be understood as a matter of both moral responsibility and inclusive refugee response.
As displacement unfolds, the needs of refugees shift throughout the displacement cycle. In the immediate aftermath of a crisis, vulnerable individuals rely on humanitarian assistance to sustain their survival. Over time, as they flee across borders, their perilous journeys are compounded by anti-immigration sentiment, racism, legal uncertainties, delays in immigration processing, constant threats of visa revocation, and the ever-looming threat of deportation. This unresolved tension between temporarily escaping conflict zones and securing long-term stability traps many individuals in cycles of uncertainty, perpetuating a series of traumatic experiences that affect their mental health and well-being.
A three-tier strategy to catalyze sustainable refugee integration
Aman Lara’s unique approach to refugee protection is grounded in a multi-layered, multi-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder framework that spans the full spectrum of displacement. At the core of this strategy are three ambitious targets designed to close the critical gaps in the refugee journey — from immediate evacuation to stable resettlement and onward to complete, long-term integration.
Delivering context-driven humanitarian support. Our initial approach is informed by a comprehensive understanding of refugees’ urgent needs and our extensive expertise in facilitating emergency evacuations in both active and post-conflict settings. We work to establish secure transit corridors, provide legal aid, offer safe shelter, and deliver trauma-informed support during periods of displacement and transition. To achieve this, we mobilize a wide network of local actors, coordinate nimbly across regions, and collaborate with organizations committed to responsive, context-informed humanitarian assistance.
Expanding legal pathways to safety. At this intermediary stage, we focus on advancing legal access to protection for at-risk populations. Drawing on our operational expertise, we advocate for policy reforms and systematic improvements that reduce bureaucratic barriers and enable timely, safe evacuations. This includes simplifying documentation processes, enhancing communication flow, and engaging in targeted advocacy. Through strategic partnerships and coalition-building, we aim to strengthen global protection systems and broaden legal pathways to safety.
Supporting long-term integration. This final phase reflects our long-term commitment to inclusion, stability, and self-reliance for refugees. We support meaningful integration through a combination of community-based networks, employer partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives. By equipping refugees with the tools, resources, and connections needed to thrive professionally and socially, we foster lasting contributions to the communities that welcome them, while reinforcing the values of dignity, belonging, and mutual benefit.
The path forward demands collective action
Since August 2021, Aman Lara has supported the evacuation of 7,196 individuals from Afghanistan, with 5,811 successfully arriving in Canada to begin new lives in safety. These efforts have been made possible through a combination of direct action, staff and volunteers, collaboration with partners, and the generous support of government-funded initiatives, organizations, and individuals.
One of our current initiatives, Horizon Hope, shows what’s possible when targeted support is in place. As a direct example of our second pillar, Economic Empowerment and Integration, this initiative has engaged over 100 skilled Afghan refugees, identifying top candidates and matching them with meaningful job opportunities. These efforts will enable resettlement and long-term integration within Canadian society.
Yet, without long-term investment and cross-sector partnerships, scalable and durable solutions to protect the world’s most vulnerable remain out of reach. Without action, the initiatives and systems we’ve built and the people they protect risk falling through the cracks.
To sustain the path forward, we need renewed investment — not just to grow, but to ensure this critical work continues.
“As I look to the future, I’m hopeful for a world where individuals who are forced to flee, not out of choice but out of necessity, are no longer trapped in the complex and uncertain labyrinth of border crossings, legal barriers, and bureaucratic hurdles. A world where they no longer beg for the opportunity to work, to provide for their families, or to live free from the constant fear of detention or deportation.
I imagine a world where systems grounded in humanitarian principles uphold the dignity and rights of refugees, regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or affiliation, including those who risked their lives in service to foreign missions and international efforts. A world where asylum seekers are not only given safety, but also the opportunity to reclaim their purpose, identity, and belonging in the communities they now call home.”
The opportunity to create this world lies in our shared humanity. Let’s act on and do right by the people who need us most.
