The United Nations (UN)’s World Refugee Day is annually observed across the globe on 20 June to honour refugees worldwide and recognise the strength and courage of people forced to flee their home countries to escape conflict or persecution.
- World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for refugees’ plight and recognise their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
The theme of World Refugee Day 2024 is “For a World Where Refugees Are Welcomed”.
Note: World Health Organization (WHO) joins the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (the UN Refugee Agency) and partners to observing the World Refugee Day 2024.
Significance of the 2024 Observance:
i.World Refugee Day 2024 focuses on solidarity with refugees, aiming for a world where refugees are welcomed and supported.
ii.It highlights the importance of welcoming refugees, celebrating their strengths and achievements, reflecting on the difficulties refugees face, and recognising their resilience.
Note: Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world. Every minute, 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution, or terror.
Background:
i.In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/55/76, proclaiming 20th June of every year as World Refugee Day.
ii.The 1st ever World Refugee Day was observed on 20 June 2001.
- 2001 commemorated the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
Note: World Refugee Day coincide with the Africa Refugee Day observed on 20 June by the Organization of African Unity(OAU – known as African Union since 2002)
1951 Refugee Convention:
i.In July 1951, a diplomatic conference in Geneva (Switzerland) adopted the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
ii.It provides the internationally recognised refugee definition and outlines the legal protection, rights, and assistance entitled to refugees.
- It also highlights the obligations of refugees towards their host countries.
iii.Initially focused on protecting European refugees post-World War II, the 1951 Refugee Convention has only been amended once, by the 1967 Protocol.
iv.The 1967 Protocol was adopted on 4 October 1967, removing these geographic and time-based limitations, expanding the Convention to apply universally, and protecting all persons fleeing conflict and persecution.
v.The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol are the primary global legal instruments that protect refugees.
UNHCR Campaign:
i.In 2023, the UNHCR launched a new global campaign, “Hope Away from Home,” to bolster solidarity and commitments from states to uphold the rights of those seeking safety from war, violence, and persecution.
ii.This campaign aims to transform global solidarity into action through safe access, human rights, legal reforms, durable solutions, and support to host countries.
Note: A survey by Ipsos and UNHCR, as part of UNHCR’s Hope Away from Home campaign, reveals that 73% of adults support the right to seek safety from war and persecution.
Refugee Statistics:
UNHCR’s Global Trends report titled “Global Trends Forced Displacement in 2023” states that number of people forcibly displaced was 117.3 million at the end of 2023. Click here to more about the report
Additional Info:
The WHO‘s 5th Health for All Film Festival (HAFF 2024) awarded the “Migrants and Refugees Health Special Prize” to “Dalal’s Story” directed by Alexandra Cordukes from Laundry Lane Productions (Australia).
- HAFF is an initiative to connect people joining the movement for health promotion through films.
- The inaugural HAFF launched WHO’s 1st call for short films in October 2019.
About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):
UN High Commissioner for Refugees– Filippo Grandi
Headquarters– Genève, Switzerland
Established in 1950
