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USCIRF says international community must protect refugees fleeing religious persecution
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Catholic World Report
The international community has a moral and legal responsibility to protect refugees fleeing religious persecution, according to a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
As the number of refugees has doubled over the last decade, there are growing challenges for neighboring countries to host them.
Despite the growing numbers, the USCIRF report noted that it is not just a moral responsibility for countries to welcome refugees but a legal one.
The International Religious Freedom Act, or IRFA, includes several provisions related to asylum seekers and refugees, especially for individuals who have fled severe violations of religious freedom.
According to the report, many countries have legal obligations to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to seek asylum from persecution.