The CRC came into existence in 1989. Despite the global support for this convention to be ratified, children’s’ protection and other rights are far from a reality for millions of children around the world.

Each year, tens of thousands of refugees fleeing violence and persecution resettle in the United States, including the Bay Area. Resettlement means a fresh start and opportunity, especially for adolescent girls whose futures had been limited by a lack of access to education and opportunities and restrictive ideas about  women. Here. these girls have the chance to improve themselves, their families, and their communities. The Vision Project aims to empower refugee girls and change perceptions within their communities by providing girls with the skills and support they need to envision a positive future, and ultimately achieve their goals. The project runs three week-long workshops each year with resettled refugee girls, and each week culminates in a personal photoshoot for each girl where they embody their future selves. 

In September, IRC staff members—some former refugees—met with Senator Mike Lee’s office to share their experiences helping to educate on the benefits of a strong refugee resettlement program in the U.S.

Learn how the IRC and Sesame Workshop's partnership has provided early childhood development services for over 1 million children across the region.

The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is a unique public-private partnership that demonstrates the best of our government, communities, and programs to support refugees as they rebuild their lives in the United States. It has been an essential legal immigration pathway and a key part of U.S. immigration policy for generations, starting with the Refugee Act of 1980. Following recent decisions which indefinitely pause resettlement, tens of thousands of refugees are now stranded overseas, families are separated, and resettled refugees already here in our communities are cut off from needed support to start their new lives. The local partners who participate in the resettlement program as employers, educators, volunteers, and in other capacities are community leaders who can serve as external validators of the myriad benefits of refugee resettlement to local communities. Many are already seeking ways to contribute their perspective and position within communities to support. This guide offers steps on how to help.

Mid-December 2022, the International Rescue Committee published its annual Emergency Watchlist, identifying the 20 countries in the world most at risk to face a severe humanitarian crisis or a deterioration of an ongoing humanitarian crisis in 2023. Once again, our unique methodology based on 67 indicators and discussions with key stakeholders in the region, concluded that the situations in 5 West African countries are of high concern. Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria are all countries where conflict, climate change, and economic turmoil impact the lives of millions of people and limits their access to quality health, education, and protection services, food, and sometimes, even to benefit from humanitarian assistance. These countries need the world’s attention to help displaced and host populations survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. This report aims to dive into these contexts and unpack the accelerators of the humanitarian crisis to then better identify the guardrails that decision makers need to rebuild so people can move from harm to home.

This World Children’s Day we look at 5 global crises impacting children around the world.

The International Rescue Committee in Denver offers a variety of unpaid internship opportunities throughout the year. Prospective interns must go through the volunteer process and should be currently enrolled in an educational institution or a recent graduate.