Reflection 1- Refugee Voices and Climate Justice: A Call for Inclusivity and Accountability

As a woman of color and migrant refugee advocate, I have long been deeply committed to highlighting the intersection—what I call the diamond—of gender, displacement, and climate change. My journey began in Pakistan in 2012, where I stood in solidarity against the Taliban, protesting for the rights of women and girls, particularly in the wake of the attack on Malala Yousafzai. This activism led me to further deepen my commitment to global justice, eventually bringing me to the Oxford Refugee Studies Centre between 2015 and 2016, where I began advocating for policies that truly reflect the lived experiences of displaced people. It was during this time that I also found my voice and strengthened my advocacy for a more inclusive approach to asylum and displacement.

One core principle has always driven my work: "From Fortress Europe to Sanctuary Europe: Building a Social Movement for Inclusive Asylum." This phrase encapsulates my vision for a world where asylum is not about exclusion and fear, but about offering sanctuary and justice. I believe in a future where refugees are not just recipients of aid, but active participants in shaping the policies that affect their lives.

Too often, the voices of refugees, especially women and marginalized groups, are overlooked or sidelined in important discussions. Whether in the corridors of power at the UN, in the halls of COP summits, or in national policy discussions, refugee voices—especially those from communities most impacted by climate change—are often silenced or ignored. This exclusion cannot continue. Climate justice is refugee justice, and we need to ensure that the most affected communities are at the forefront of discussions and decisions that will shape our shared future.

A Call to Action: "Not On Our Name"

I am starting a campaign very strongly as I make my way to COP29. "Not On Our Name"—we need to say NO, stand strong, and stand against what's happening in this world, where conflict and climate are intertwined. It is time for us to take the decision-making power, to stand firm, and say: No more. Enough is enough.

I am tired, I am exhausted, and I feel powerless at times—but I am not voiceless. And I will never be voiceless. The injustice faced by refugees and those displaced by climate change demands action. We cannot continue to allow policies to be made in our name that exclude us or ignore the realities we live every day. We are not passive victims; we are active agents of change, and we will no longer accept being left out of the conversations that will shape our future.

COP29, like many other international summits, has been a game of power and privilege—decisions are made in closed rooms by people who have no understanding of what it means to lose your home, your livelihood, and your dignity. But I am here to say that this cannot continue. Refugee voices must be included, not just for token representation, but because our lived experiences offer crucial insights into the solutions that are needed for a just and sustainable future for all.

The Intersection of Displacement, Climate, and Gender

The climate crisis is not gender-neutral. Women and girls, particularly from marginalized communities, are bearing the brunt of climate impacts. When we talk about displacement and climate change, we must acknowledge that the women who are fleeing climate devastation are not just displaced by natural disasters—they are displaced by a system that refuses to acknowledge their humanity, their rights, and their capacity to contribute to solutions.

I will continue to advocate for a world where women, especially women of color and refugees, are empowered to take part in the decisions that affect them. Climate change is a crisis of justice. And if we are serious about building a just and sustainable future, we must make space for the voices of those who are most affected—and that includes the voices of refugee women.

As I make my way to COP29, I stand firm in my commitment to fight for climate justice, for refugee justice, and for gender equality. We cannot afford to ignore the most marginalized. Refugee voices are essential in the conversations that will shape the future of our planet. Our experiences of displacement are not peripheral to the climate crisis—they are at the heart of it. We have the right to be part of the solutions.

So, as I march forward with this campaign, I say loud and clear: "Not On Our Name". We are done being excluded. We are done being ignored. We are done being sidelined. The time for change is now. We will no longer be silent. We will speak, we will stand, and we will fight—for ourselves, for our communities, and for the future of our planet.

A conference as part of Oxford Refugee Week, 18-19 June 2016t Us. This phrase, born from the disability rights movement, resonates strongly in the context of climate justice because too often, the most vulnerable voices are excluded from crucial discussions that shape our collective future.

For me, climate justice is not a theoretical debate about the planet's future—it is about the real, everyday struggles faced by refugees and communities in the Global South. Climate change has disproportionately impacted those who are already marginalized, pushing them into even more precarious situations. Yet, despite being on the frontlines of climate impacts, refugees and displaced people are routinely excluded from the spaces where climate policies and solutions are being discussed and formed. This exclusion cannot continue. Not only is it unjust, but it is also short-sighted. To build a resilient future for all, we must centre the voices of those most affected.

Refugee Experiences: A Mirror for Global Climate Action (Non-Meaningful Participation )

As someone who has lived through the realities of displacement, I bring a perspective grounded in lived experience. Being a refugee is not just about crossing borders or surviving in camps—it's about the ongoing trauma of losing your home, your community, and your sense of security. It’s about trying to rebuild a life in a new place where the systems are stacked against you. Refugees do not just suffer from violence, war, or persecution—they also bear the brunt of climate change impacts, from extreme weather events to resource scarcity, to the loss of livelihoods and traditional ways of life. Climate change intensifies the very forces that drive displacement, and yet, we are often left out of the conversation on how to solve it.

When I first began my advocacy work, I made it clear that our voices—refugees, displaced people, and those from vulnerable communities—must be heard. I’ve asked questions, raised concerns, and pointed out the disconnect between what is being discussed in high-level climate summits and the realities faced by the most affected populations. I have often been met with the response: "Isn't it enough to focus on the climate crisis itself? Why focus on displacement?" My answer is simple: climate change and displacement are inseparable. The issues are deeply interconnected. You cannot solve one without addressing the other.

The Role of COP and Global Climate Conversations

The COP (Conference of the Parties) meetings, including COP29, have become the epitome of climate policy-making. These high-level summits bring together world leaders, policymakers, and corporate stakeholders. Yet, despite the vast discussions and declarations made at these meetings, there is still a fundamental exclusion of displaced communities, refugees, and frontline workers in the conversations.

COP29, like many of its predecessors, is a game of power and privilege. These spaces, filled with high-level diplomats and corporate elites, do not reflect the realities of those who have lost everything due to climate change. I know this struggle firsthand. I have fought to get a seat at the table, to ensure that the voices of refugees are not just tokenized but heard, understood, and included in the decision-making processes.

The exclusion of refugees from climate negotiations is more than just a missed opportunity—it is a failure to acknowledge the fundamental human rights that climate change violates. If the global community is truly serious about tackling climate change, we must ensure that those most affected are part of the solutions. This is not just about inclusion—it’s about justice.

A Call for Action: "Not on Our Name"

As I continue to navigate these spaces, I want to make one thing clear: we are not going to stand by while decisions are made in our name that ignore our lived experiences and needs. The climate crisis is not a distant problem; it is here, it is now, and it is shaping our future. We cannot allow a situation where policies are created for us, without us. We must ensure that climate justice is inclusive and that refugee voices are central to the solutions.

The phrase "Not on Our Name" is a powerful statement. It’s a call to action, a reminder that the decisions made today will affect future generations, and we will not allow policies that exclude us or perpetuate harm. When spaces are made for us, when our voices are included in the decision-making process, we can advocate for solutions that are holistic, sustainable, and truly just.

We have the knowledge, the experience, and the agency to contribute to climate justice. What we need is recognition. We need the world to understand that climate justice is refugee justice. This is not about charity—it is about rights, dignity, and the future of our planet. The time to act is now, and the time to listen to refugee voices is long overdue.

The struggle for climate justice is a shared struggle. We are all in this together—those who have been displaced by conflict, by climate change, by injustice—and those who have the privilege to sit at the table in decision-making spaces. But we cannot build a just and sustainable future if we continue to leave people behind. Refugees are not a footnote in the climate conversation—they are central to it.

As we move forward, let us remember that true justice cannot be achieved without the inclusion of the most marginalized. Refugee voices are essential to building a future that is equitable and resilient for all. If we are to truly create a world that works for everyone, we must ensure that no one is left behind—not on our name, not in our future.

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