Monday 15 June 2015

World Refugee Day 2015, June 20

World Refugee Day, June 20
Día Mundial de los Refugiados, 20 de junio.
Всемирный день беженцев, 20 июня.
Journée mondiale des réfugiés, 20 juin.
世界难民日,6月20日.




Theme 2015 : Ordinary people living through extraordinary times.
On June 20, the world commemorates the strength, courage, and resilience of millions of refugees.


Around the world, conflict has forced a record number of people to flee their homes. More than 50 million people are currently displaced by war and violence,so me 33.3 million in their own country and some 16.7 million as refugees, mostly in neighbouring countries. Last year alone, more than 10 million people were newly displaced; every 15 minutes,one family was forced into flight.

On this World Refugee Day, let us remember the plight of the millions of people worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of conflict and persecution. At the end of 2014, 59.5 million persons - the highest number on record - were forcibly displaced around the globe. This means that one in every 122 human beings today is either a refugee, internally displaced or seeking asylum.

The ongoing conflict in Syria, as well as crises in Iraq, Ukraine, South Sudan, Central African Republic, northeastern Nigeria and parts of Pakistan, have led to a staggering growth and acceleration of global forced displacement. In 2014, 42,500 people became refugees, asylum seekers or internally displaced every single day - a rate that has quadrupled in only four years. At the same time, many long-standing conflicts remained unresolved, and the number of refugees who were able to return home last year was the lowest in over three decades. Protracted asylum situations now last for an average of 25 years.

A growing tide of uprooted people is seeking protection from persecution and violence. Many of them have no choice but to try and reach safety using dangerous means, such as has been demonstrated by the sharp increase in irregular boat movements in the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and elsewhere. At times like these, it is essential that governments and societies around the world recommit to providing refuge and safety to those who have lost everything to conflict or persecution. With 86 per cent of all refugees living in the developing world, and with the humanitarian response system increasingly overstretched, international solidarity and burden-sharing are crucial in meeting the needs of displaced communities as well as their hosts.

Refugees are people like anyone else, like you and me. They led ordinary lives before becoming displaced, and their biggest dream is to be able to live normally again. On this World Refugee Day, let us recall our common humanity, celebrate tolerance and diversity and open our hearts to refugees everywhere.

Ban Ki-moon

About World Refugee Day, June 20 2015

On World Refugee Day, June 20, UNHCR commemorates the strength and resilience of the more than 50 million people around the world forced to flee their homes due to war or human rights abuses.

Ordinary people living through extraordinary times: In 2015 our World Refugee Day Campaign aims to bring the public closer to the human side of the refugee story by sharing stories of hope and resilience from displaced people. These stories will highlight the common links between we all share with refugees, returnees, IDPs and resettled refugees.



 Forum : World Refugee Day - JUNE 20

Over 40 Million individuals received life-saving support in 2014


 Our Campaign microsite www.refugeeday.org features stories from refugees who describe in their own words their own passions and interests; cooking, music, poetry, or sports. Through their testimonials we aim to show that these are ordinary people living through extraordinary times. We are asking our audiences to share the stories with their friends and family.

Events : World Refugee Day celebrations around the World.

UNHCR provides essential services to refugees in 125+ countries

 

The UN refugee agency UNHCR will launch its annual World Refugee Day Campaign on Tuesday with the release of several films featuring celebrity supporters that tell the human side of the refugee plight. This years' campaign aims to bring the public closer to the story, showing refugees as ordinary people living in extraordinary circumstances.

The films feature UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and best-selling author, Khaled Hosseini, photographer and supermodel Helena Christensen, singer/songwriter Maher Zain and actor Jung Woo-Sung . The films were recorded during recent field visits. Each supporter introduces an individual refugee and their story. These films and other refugee stories can be found on UNHCR's Campaign website: www.refugeeday.org.

Remarking on her experience in Colombia, Helena Christensen said,
"Getting to know these remarkable families made me realize that, even though they had to leave everything behind when they were forced to flee their homes, they still share so many of the same hope and dreams that we all do. They haven't lost their identity, their skills or their passions. They just long to resume a normal life."

In addition to these new films from the field, author Neil Gaiman, actor David Morrissey and actress Emma Thompson will share personal stories of refugees they have met or are in their own families. On World Refugee Day, 20 June, other UNHCR supporters including actor, model and refugee, Ger Duany, and actresses Kristin Davis and Kat Graham, will be spending time with refugees and displaced families.
This high profile support is part of a worldwide public outreach campaign for World Refugee Day 2015. UNHCR offices in some 120 countries are planning various events including the film premiere of Salam Neighbor in Washington D.C.

UNHCR will mark World Refugee Day 2015 against a backdrop of multiple conflicts, growing numbers of forcibly displaced people and a rising tide of intolerance and xenophobia in many parts of the world.

As UNHCR prepares to launch its campaign, High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said:
"All around the world we are seeing families fleeing violence. The numbers are massive but we must not forget that these are mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. People who led ordinary lives before war forced them to flee. On this World Refugee Day, everyone should remember the things that connect all of us our common humanity."



 
51.2 million - Statistic  Men, women and children displaced by unthinkable crises around the world



Notes to editor

Contacts
For information on the World Refugee Day Campaign and Call to Action please contact:
Leigh Foster, Chief, Events. Campaigns and Goodwill Ambassadors: Foster@unhcr.org
Simone Regge, External Relations Officer: Regge@unhcr.org
For more information and photos of UNHCR high profile supporters and Goodwill Ambassadors please contact:
Coco Campbell, Global Goodwill Ambassador programme: campbeco@unhcr.org



World Refugee Day Campaign: 30 second Public Service Announcements:
Religious leaders break with tradition, letting women and girls rejoin the Yazidi community after surviving abduction, forced conversion and rape.



Resources


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