Around the world, JRS supports refugees in their efforts to claim and exercise their rights, and lobbying governments and institutions for better and just responses to refugees and situations of forced displacement. JRS also aims at enhancing the public perception of refugees, countering xenophobia, indifference, promoting integration, and social cohesion.

By bringing field-based accounts of needs, that too often do not make the headlines, to the attention of policy makers in the United States by proposing specific actions to meet these needs, JRS seeks to make a direct and lifesaving impact on the well-being of refugees and forced migrants.