Nansen Refugee Award honours Kyrgyz lawyer for work with stateless people

October 8, 2019

Human rights lawyer Azizbek Ashurov speaks at the Nansen Refugee Award

The 2019 winner of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award is Azizbek Ashurov, a lawyer whose work has supported the efforts of the Kyrgyz Republic in becoming the first country in the world to end statelessness.

On Monday night, IKEA managers from 24 countries were happy to witness Ashurov receive his award, as special guests at the ceremony in Geneva. The event was hosted by UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and supported by the IKEA Foundation and the Canton of Geneva.

Millions of people around the world are stateless, which means they are not recognised as a national of any country. Deprived of legal rights and basic services, stateless people are marginalised and vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

The right to a future

Motivated by his own family’s difficult experience of achieving citizenship after arriving from Uzbekistan, Ashurov offered free legal advice and assistance to displaced, stateless and undocumented people in southern Kyrgyzstan. He said: “I realised that if it was this difficult for me, with my education, and as a lawyer, then imagine how hard it must be for an ordinary person.”

Through his organisation he has helped over 10,000 people gain Kyrgyz nationality after they became stateless following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Among them, some 2,000 children will now have the right to an education and a future with the freedom to travel, marry and work.

Opportunities for refugees

Earlier in the day, IKEA leaders gathered at the IKEA Geneva store to discuss how we can create a better everyday life and more opportunities for refugees.

Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani, another company leading the way in making a stand for refugees, said: “Coming together in an IKEA store discussing this serious human issue is inspiring to me. There is magic in bringing people together to create opportunities for others to shine. When a refugee gets a job he stops being a refugee.”

Read more about Nansen Award winner Azizbek Ashurov.

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UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
https://www.unhcr.org/

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Is it still possible to change the future of our planet? 🌍 This is the question we asked in our 2023 Annual Review, the year that marked the halfway point to the deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement commitments. No organisation can tackle the complex root causes of climate change and poverty on its own. Thanks to the work of our partners, we’re optimistic that together, we can change the story of our planet for good! 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Read our full publication of the 2023 Annual Review to discover our partners’ stories and visit our website to read more about our ongoing work together 🔗 #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 #PeopleAndPlanet
Is it still possible to change the future of our planet? 🌍 This is the question we asked in our 2023 Annual Review, the year that marked the halfway point to the deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement commitments. No organisation can tackle the complex root causes of climate change and poverty on its own. Thanks to the work of our partners, we’re optimistic that together, we can change the story of our planet for good! 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Read our full publication of the 2023 Annual Review to discover our partners’ stories and visit our website to read more about our ongoing work together 🔗 #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 #PeopleAndPlanet
Is it still possible to change the future of our planet? 🌍 This is the question we asked in our 2023 Annual Review, the year that marked the halfway point to the deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement commitments. No organisation can tackle the complex root causes of climate change and poverty on its own. Thanks to the work of our partners, we’re optimistic that together, we can change the story of our planet for good! 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Read our full publication of the 2023 Annual Review to discover our partners’ stories and visit our website to read more about our ongoing work together 🔗 #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 #PeopleAndPlanet
Is it still possible to change the future of our planet? 🌍 This is the question we asked in our 2023 Annual Review, the year that marked the halfway point to the deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement commitments. No organisation can tackle the complex root causes of climate change and poverty on its own. Thanks to the work of our partners, we’re optimistic that together, we can change the story of our planet for good! 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Read our full publication of the 2023 Annual Review to discover our partners’ stories and visit our website to read more about our ongoing work together 🔗 #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 #PeopleAndPlanet
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Is it still possible to change the future of our planet? 🌍 This is the question we asked in our 2023 Annual Review, the year that marked the halfway point to the deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement commitments. No organisation can tackle the complex root causes of climate change and poverty on its own. Thanks to the work of our partners, we’re optimistic that together, we can change the story of our planet for good! 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Read our full publication of the 2023 Annual Review to discover our partners’ stories and visit our website to read more about our ongoing work together 🔗 #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 #PeopleAndPlanet
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HEJ! 👋 We’re the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat. Take a look at our #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 below. In 2022, the world saw the biggest-ever jump in the number of forcibly displaced people. It’s due to this global issue that our work is focused on translating evidence into action to find durable solutions for displacement-affected communities across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region of Africa 🌍 We had the opportunity to facilitate a panel at the IKEA Foundation’s Refugee Livelihoods Partners Convening to discuss the latest evidence on effective livelihoods programming in displacement settings 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Through this, we identified a need for greater interaction between researchers and practitioners. One of our priorities is to give more of a platform to local research institutions in regions with displaced populations, as they’re better placed not only to support local policymakers but to also hold them accountable. Want to learn more? Download the full 2023 annual review via the link in the bio 🔗 #AnnualReviewSeries #PeopleAndPlanet #RefugeeSystemsTransformation #ForcedToFlee
HEJ! 👋 We’re the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat. Take a look at our #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 below. In 2022, the world saw the biggest-ever jump in the number of forcibly displaced people. It’s due to this global issue that our work is focused on translating evidence into action to find durable solutions for displacement-affected communities across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region of Africa 🌍 We had the opportunity to facilitate a panel at the IKEA Foundation’s Refugee Livelihoods Partners Convening to discuss the latest evidence on effective livelihoods programming in displacement settings 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Through this, we identified a need for greater interaction between researchers and practitioners. One of our priorities is to give more of a platform to local research institutions in regions with displaced populations, as they’re better placed not only to support local policymakers but to also hold them accountable. Want to learn more? Download the full 2023 annual review via the link in the bio 🔗 #AnnualReviewSeries #PeopleAndPlanet #RefugeeSystemsTransformation #ForcedToFlee
HEJ! 👋 We’re the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat. Take a look at our #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 below. In 2022, the world saw the biggest-ever jump in the number of forcibly displaced people. It’s due to this global issue that our work is focused on translating evidence into action to find durable solutions for displacement-affected communities across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region of Africa 🌍 We had the opportunity to facilitate a panel at the IKEA Foundation’s Refugee Livelihoods Partners Convening to discuss the latest evidence on effective livelihoods programming in displacement settings 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Through this, we identified a need for greater interaction between researchers and practitioners. One of our priorities is to give more of a platform to local research institutions in regions with displaced populations, as they’re better placed not only to support local policymakers but to also hold them accountable. Want to learn more? Download the full 2023 annual review via the link in the bio 🔗 #AnnualReviewSeries #PeopleAndPlanet #RefugeeSystemsTransformation #ForcedToFlee
HEJ! 👋 We’re the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat. Take a look at our #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 below. In 2022, the world saw the biggest-ever jump in the number of forcibly displaced people. It’s due to this global issue that our work is focused on translating evidence into action to find durable solutions for displacement-affected communities across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region of Africa 🌍 We had the opportunity to facilitate a panel at the IKEA Foundation’s Refugee Livelihoods Partners Convening to discuss the latest evidence on effective livelihoods programming in displacement settings 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Through this, we identified a need for greater interaction between researchers and practitioners. One of our priorities is to give more of a platform to local research institutions in regions with displaced populations, as they’re better placed not only to support local policymakers but to also hold them accountable. Want to learn more? Download the full 2023 annual review via the link in the bio 🔗 #AnnualReviewSeries #PeopleAndPlanet #RefugeeSystemsTransformation #ForcedToFlee
HEJ! 👋 We’re the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat. Take a look at our #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 below. In 2022, the world saw the biggest-ever jump in the number of forcibly displaced people. It’s due to this global issue that our work is focused on translating evidence into action to find durable solutions for displacement-affected communities across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region of Africa 🌍 We had the opportunity to facilitate a panel at the IKEA Foundation’s Refugee Livelihoods Partners Convening to discuss the latest evidence on effective livelihoods programming in displacement settings 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Through this, we identified a need for greater interaction between researchers and practitioners. One of our priorities is to give more of a platform to local research institutions in regions with displaced populations, as they’re better placed not only to support local policymakers but to also hold them accountable. Want to learn more? Download the full 2023 annual review via the link in the bio 🔗 #AnnualReviewSeries #PeopleAndPlanet #RefugeeSystemsTransformation #ForcedToFlee
HEJ! 👋 We’re the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat. Take a look at our #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 below. In 2022, the world saw the biggest-ever jump in the number of forcibly displaced people. It’s due to this global issue that our work is focused on translating evidence into action to find durable solutions for displacement-affected communities across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region of Africa 🌍 We had the opportunity to facilitate a panel at the IKEA Foundation’s Refugee Livelihoods Partners Convening to discuss the latest evidence on effective livelihoods programming in displacement settings 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Through this, we identified a need for greater interaction between researchers and practitioners. One of our priorities is to give more of a platform to local research institutions in regions with displaced populations, as they’re better placed not only to support local policymakers but to also hold them accountable. Want to learn more? Download the full 2023 annual review via the link in the bio 🔗 #AnnualReviewSeries #PeopleAndPlanet #RefugeeSystemsTransformation #ForcedToFlee
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HEJ! 👋 We’re the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat. Take a look at our #IKEAFoundationHighlights2023 below. In 2022, the world saw the biggest-ever jump in the number of forcibly displaced people. It’s due to this global issue that our work is focused on translating evidence into action to find durable solutions for displacement-affected communities across East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region of Africa 🌍 We had the opportunity to facilitate a panel at the IKEA Foundation’s Refugee Livelihoods Partners Convening to discuss the latest evidence on effective livelihoods programming in displacement settings 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Through this, we identified a need for greater interaction between researchers and practitioners. One of our priorities is to give more of a platform to local research institutions in regions with displaced populations, as they’re better placed not only to support local policymakers but to also hold them accountable. Want to learn more? Download the full 2023 annual review via the link in the bio 🔗 #AnnualReviewSeries #PeopleAndPlanet #RefugeeSystemsTransformation #ForcedToFlee
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Sea level rise is an existential threat to Island States, and a warning we can’t ignore. At the IKEA Foundation, we actively promote efforts to limit #GlobalWarming, which is a key driver of #SeaLevelRise 🌊 We’re proud that our partner, Climate Analytics, provides expert support to the @unitednations Secretary-General’s Climate Action Team to enhance evidence availability and awareness of the challenges posed by a warming planet 🌍 “The more we delay phasing out fossil fuels, the more sea level rise we’re locking ourselves into, and the earlier damages will occur. Taking action to limit warming to 1.5°C will slow sea level rise significantly,” says report reviewer and Climate Analytics CEO, Bill Hare. Learn more about how sea level rise poses risks to the livelihoods of coastal communities via the link in our bio 🔗 #PeopleAndPlanet #SustainableLivelihoods
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Sea level rise is an existential threat to Island States, and a warning we can’t ignore. At the IKEA Foundation, we actively promote efforts to limit #GlobalWarming, which is a key driver of #SeaLevelRise 🌊 We’re proud that our partner, Climate Analytics, provides expert support to the @unitednations Secretary-General’s Climate Action Team to enhance evidence availability and awareness of the challenges posed by a warming planet 🌍 “The more we delay phasing out fossil fuels, the more sea level rise we’re locking ourselves into, and the earlier damages will occur. Taking action to limit warming to 1.5°C will slow sea level rise significantly,” says report reviewer and Climate Analytics CEO, Bill Hare. Learn more about how sea level rise poses risks to the livelihoods of coastal communities via the link in our bio 🔗 #PeopleAndPlanet #SustainableLivelihoods
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