PURPOSE: World Refugee Day aims to enable everyone to stand together to celebrate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of individuals. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has recently started the “With”Refugees” petition this is to send a message to the people of the action, solidarity, and responsibility on behalf of refugees to governments worldwide. There have been projects and resources that have been put into place which aims to educate people about the way of life for refugees. The number of people forced to flee conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution has now surpassed 100 million for the first time on record.
Organised crime, armed groups, statelessness and decades of conflict all pose a serious risk to populations in the Americas. Over seven million people are now displaced and asylum applications, particularly from Central American countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala, have sharply increased.
Around 30 million internally displaced persons, refugees and asylum-seekers live in Africa, representing almost one-third of the world’s refugee population.
Europe has a history of offering sanctuary to refugees. The 1951 Refugee Convention was established as a response to the urgent needs of refugees generated by World War II. Since then, Europe has received people seeking asylum as they flee conflict, persecution and human rights violations.
The Middle East and North Africa region continues to pose overwhelming challenges, with multiple and complex emergency situations on an unprecedented scale.
There are 9.2 million people of concern to UNHCR across Asia and the Pacific, including 4.4 million refugees and asylum-seekers, 3.3 million internally displaced people and 2.3 million stateless persons.
FORUM: “Hope away from home.“ World Refugee Day 2023. This year, World Refugee Day will focus on the power of inclusion and solutions for refugees with the slogan “Hope away from Home. A world where refugees are always included.”. Including refugees in the communities where they have found safety after fleeing conflict and persecution is the most effective way to support them in restarting their lives and enable them to contribute to the countries hosting them. It’s also the best way to prepare them to return home and rebuild their countries, when conditions allow them to do so safely and voluntarily, or to thrive if they are resettled to another country. World Refugee Day is intended to be a celebration of the human spirit and of the fortitude of the millions of people who, despite being displaced and dispossessed, relentlessly strive to improve their lives and those of their families and communities. Yet this year we are again reminded of the work we have ahead of us as world leaders remain unable or unwilling to resolve conflicts. Read the UNHCR GlobaL Appeal 2023 and follow the conversation with the hashtags #20June, #WorldRefugeeDay, #Hopeawayfromhome.
EVENTS: At UNHQ New York; On June 20th, the global ceremony of World Refugee Day 2023 will honor refugees and observe a minute of silence. In Africa, the African Union will Commemorates the World Refugee Day 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at 9:30 am (EAT). The High level Panel discussion is organized by the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) of the African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) . Find out how countries around the globe celebrate the day by selecting a country: World Refugee Day 2023 events in Australia and New Zealand – World Refugee 2023 events in Japan – World Refugee Day 2023 events in Thailand – World Refugee 2023 in Hong Kong – World Refugee Day 2023 events in Philippines – World Refugee Day 2023 events in Serbia – World Refugee Day 2023 events in Netherlands – World Refugee Day 2023 events in Iran – World Refugee Day 2023 events in Brazil – World Refugee Day 2023 events in Austria. This year, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency will launched a special campaign to create a global movement of solidarity with refugees. To participate Explore the list of worldwide events!
STATEMENTS: UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie called on the world to focus on finding solutions to reduce refugee numbers globally.
WEBINARS: Watch the National Museum Memorial public discussion to mark Refugee Day 2023!
Approximately 10 million civilians worldwide were displaced from their homes during WWI. Today, tens of thousands of refugees seek asylum in the United States annually, with about 500 resettling in Kansas City each year. Join us in a panel conversation as we explore the refugee experience in our community. Hosted in partnership with Jewish Vocational Service and Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment (RISE). Get more information with the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
PODCASTS: 117.2 million people will be forcibly displaced or stateless in 2023, according to UNHCR's estimations. All these Pesons are under UNHCR's mandate in 2023. The health of refugees everywhere must be addressed. This entails attending to their immediate needs as well as helping countries build health systems that are sensitive to the reality of life for refugees, such as cultural and linguistic barriers. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: If policies that promote the health of refugees and all people on the move are in place, refugees and migrants can contribute to the full and flourishing life of a country and to supporting the economy, culture and a diverse society. Addressing the health needs of refugees across the Region. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
Each year on June 20 the world celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. It is also an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
Each year, World Refugee Day is marked by a variety of events in many countries around the globe in support of refugees. These activities are led by or involve refugees themselves, government officials, host communities, companies, celebrities, school children and the general public, among others. Given the chance, refugees will continue to contribute to a stronger, safer and more vibrant world.
ACTIONS
Help protect International Displaced persons IDPs), Stateless persons, Asylum seekers and returnees.
Inform the audience that the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol are the only global legal instruments explicitly covering the most important aspects of a refugee’s life.
Raise awareness on the unique health needs of refugees and people on the move.
Focus on the challenges, refugees may face in accessing healthcare during their journeys and in the host country.
Step up efforts worldwide to ensure everyone everywhere at any time is able to enjoy the right to health and access high-quality health services that are sensitive to their needs, and appropriate for each person’s culture and needs, without financial impediment.
PARTNERSHIPS
The World Refugee Day is held by the United Nations Information Centres, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and its Regional Offices, (UNHCR Regional Office for Africa, UNHCR Regional Office for Americas, UNHCR Regional Office for Europe, UNHCR Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa, UNCHR Regional Office for Asia and Pacific), the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). With the collaboration of the United Nations Volunteers programme, the World Health Organization (WHO), WHO Europe, the WHO Regional Office for Africa, the WHO/PAHO, the WHO Western Pacific Region, the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Relief Web, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the World Food Programme (WFP) with the participation of the Civil Society Organizations, the Non-governmental Organizations, Philantropists and academics.