Resettlement Changed Her Life; Now She's Fighting For Others To Have The Same Chance
Currently, she's a qualified refugee and human rights lawyer in New Zealand – but on Tuesday she recalled becoming displaced aged 14 and described the harrowing limbo that followed.
Invisible and alone
'I grew up invisible to the world,' she said. 'Without rights, opportunities, or safety.'
That all changed in 2018, when her family was offered resettlement in New Zealand – a decision she said gave her back dignity, hope, and a future.
Today, she advocates for others as a legal professional and helps shape global resettlement policy as an advisor to the Core Group on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP) which is supported by UN refugee agency, UNHCR.
Ms. Changezi's powerful testimony set the tone for the release of the agency's Projected Global Resettlement Needs 2026 report.
Syrians on the move
UNHCR estimates that 2.5 million refugees will require resettlement next year, a decrease from the 2.9 million estimated for 2025.
While this marks a shift – mainly due to changed conditions in Syria that are allowing for some voluntary returns – the figure remains historically high.
The largest groups in need include Afghans, Syrians, South Sudanese, Sudanese, Rohingya and Congolese refugees. Major countries of asylum like Iran, Türkiye, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Uganda continue to host large refugee populations, with many individuals facing urgent needs that resettlement can address.
' Resettlement offers not only protection, but also a pathway to dignity and inclusion,' said UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo. 'It is a demonstration of meaningful international solidarity,' she added.
Worrisome decline
Yet the message from UNHCR was also one of concern. Resettlement quotas for 2025 are expected to fall to their lowest level in two decades — below even the disruptions seen during the COVID-19pandemic. This decline threatens to undo progress and places vulnerable refugees at greater risk.
In that context, Ms. Changezi's story became more than a personal account – it was a rallying call. 'Resettlement is more than a humanitarian act,' she told journalists. 'It is a strategic investment in our shared future.'
Contributing to host societies
Ms. Changezi emphasized that refugees are not defined by their vulnerability. Across the globe, resettled refugees are rebuilding communities, launching businesses, and strengthening social and economic systems in their new homes. ' We offer solutions. We drive innovation,' she insisted.
UNHCR is urging states to not only maintain their existing resettlement programmes but to expand them – swiftly and ambitiously. It is also calling for more flexible and responsive systems that can meet the needs of refugees across different regions and contexts.
Despite the challenges, over 116,000 refugees were resettled through UNHCR-supported programmes last year.
The international target for 2026 is to resettle 120,000 individuals – a goal UNHCR says is well within reach if states act decisively.
Ms. Changezi closed her remarks with a reminder that the promise of resettlement is not abstract. 'Multiply my story across millions,' she said. 'The long-term impact is extraordinary – not just for refugees, but for the societies that embrace them.'
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