A project supported by the British Council’s Bridging Voices program studied how religion can help promote social justice for refugees. Researchers produced a report of case studies based on interviews with refugees, members of local host communities, and locally-based organizations to examine the roles of faith leaders and faith communities in providing humanitarian aid and advocating for the rights of migrants.
In a video overview of the project, lead investigator Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh at University College London describes how the project’s case studies—each of which focuses on a different host location around the world—demonstrate how religion often plays a major role in motivating responses in support of refugees. She also highlights how refugees themselves lead humanitarian efforts in their communities, challenging the representation of refugees as passive victims in need of rescue or as political or social threats.
This report draws on over 300 in-depth interviews conducted with refugees, members of local host communities and locally-based organisations in towns, cities and camps in Cameroon, Greece, Malaysia, Mexico, Lebanon and Jordan to examine the roles that members of local faith communities, faith leaders and faith-based organisations can play in promoting social justice for refugees.This includes a particular focus on the roles played by individuals and communities who have themselves experienced displacement.
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