World Refugee Day

It can be challenging to control a large-scale refugee crisis, but UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reminds us that “the problems are violence and hatred, not individuals fleeing.” The purpose of World Refugee Day is to increase awareness of the issue, show refugees that by working together, we can solve the crisis, and help those who have been displaced find safe and secure homes.

What happens on World Refugee Day?

Many countries host a variety of events on June 20. Blue lights, the official color of the United Nations, are used to illuminate many famous locations, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Empire State Building in New York. People in Glasgow, Scotland, join forces to form a gigantic human chain that encircles George Square in the heart of the city to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Scotland is an immigrant-welcoming nation. Numerous fundraising events, exhibitions, and film screenings are conducted everywhere.

History

Many nations and areas have been organizing celebrations similar to World Refugee Day for years. Africa Refugee Day, which is observed on June 20 in numerous nations, is one of the most widely observed occasions. On December 4, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution expressing solidarity with Africa.

The resolution highlighted that the 1951 Convention about the Status of Refugees was 50 years old in 2001 and that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) decided to make International Refugee Day on June 20 coincide with Africa Refugee Day. As a result, the Assembly agreed that starting in 2001, June 20 will be observed as World Refugee Day. This day was designated by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to call attention to the predicament of about 14 million refugees throughout the world.

Facts You Need To Know

• According to the UNHCR, there are 79.5 million individuals worldwide who have been forcefully displaced.
• The number of displaced people worldwide is about 1%.
• Children make up about 50% of all refugees worldwide.
• Daily, 42,500 individuals escape their homes in search of safety within their own country’s or other nations’ borders.
• Syria’s civil conflict has resulted in one of the world’s biggest humanitarian disasters.
• Approximately 80% of Syrian refugee households struggle to make ends meet.
• Developing countries house 86 percent of the world’s refugees.
• Dadaab, Kenya, is home to more than 329,000 people and is the world’s biggest refugee camp.
• 51% of the world’s 20 million refugees are under the age of 18.
• At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, the first-ever Refugee Team competed.

World Refugee Day 2023

World Refugee Day this year emphasizes the value of inclusion and refugee solutions. The best method to assist refugees in resuming their lives and enabling them to contribute to the nations hosting them is to include them in the communities where they have found sanctuary after escaping violence and persecution. When circumstances enable people to do so securely and freely, it’s also the ideal method to get them ready to go back home and rebuild their nations, or to prosper if they are relocated to another one.

The Theme of World Refugee Day 2023

1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol

Refugees are among the world’s most vulnerable people. They are protected by the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. They are the only international legal tools that directly address the most critical parts of a refugee’s life.

Refugees, according to its rules, are entitled to the same treatment as other foreign nationals in a given country, and in many situations, the same treatment as nationals. The 1951 Convention establishes a variety of rights for refugees and emphasizes their responsibilities to their host country.

The 1951 Convention establishes the following rights:

• The right not to be expelled unless and until particular, clearly specified circumstances are met.
• The right not to be penalized for illegally entering a contracting State’s territory.
• The right to housing
• The right to education
• The right to work
• The right to freedom of movement within the territory
• The right to public relief and assistance
• The right to access the courts
• The right to freedom of religion
• The right to be issued identity and travel documents

All refugees have certain basic rights, including the right to be shielded from deportation. The longer a refugee stays in the host country, the more rights they are entitled to, based on the fact that the longer they stay as refugees, the more rights they require.

Why is World Refugee Day Important?

World Refugee Day sheds light on refugees’ rights, needs, and hopes, aiding in mobilizing political will and support so that refugees will not only flourish but grow. Although it is critical to protect and strengthen the lives of refugees daily, international days such as World Refugee Day serve to draw public attention to the plight of those fleeing wars or persecution.

“Refugees are not terrorists. They are often the first victims of terrorism.”

– António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres

How is World Refugee Day Celebrated?

Every year, World Refugee Day is celebrated with a series of activities in many countries around the world in honor of refugees. These events are led or participated in by immigrants, government officials, host groups, businesses, actors, schoolchildren, and members of the general public, among others.

“No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.”

– Warsan Shire

How Can You Contribute to World Refugee Day?

Now that we have learned about World Refugee Day, let’s learn how we can contribute to the World Refugee Day:

1. Lend a hand, be their friend!
   Reach out to refugees in your community. Consider welcoming them to dinner or spending a couple of nights in your guest room if they are in search of a place to rest. Introduce them to the local community so they can get to know their new surroundings more easily. Simply becoming a friend can have a significant positive effect on someone’s life, and working as a group guide can be extremely beneficial.

2. By attending a United Nations event
   On World Refugee Day, the UN plans to hold live digital events to address the global refugee crisis, possible priorities related to the issue, and how to make a difference. Keep an eye out for summaries of the events’ activities, to see how you can attend for yourself.

3. Use your Resources
   Your technical experience can be used to help people. Volunteer your professional skills to local refugee organizations. Last year, the UN said that it hoped that sometime soon, every refugee will have access to an education, a secure place to live, and opportunities to work and contribute to their communities. If you own a company or are a recruiting officer, you should think about hiring local refugees who are looking for jobs.

Source :Leverage Edu