What is World Refugee Day?
11 June 2024
•By efreedman
With the impacts of ongoing conflict currently being felt worldwide, it is estimated that 110 million people are being forcibly displaced and over 36.4 million are now refugees . So what can we do to support the children and families being most impacted by war and displacement? Let’s take a look at how we can help to spread awareness this World Refugee Day.
When is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day is on Thursday 20th June 2024.
What is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day is an international day designed to celebrate and honour refugees around the world. The event aims to recognise the strength and courage of refugees who have fled conflict and persecution in their home country, in the hope of finding a better life for themselves and their families abroad.
The families impacted by these events often attempt to travel to different countries to pursue a better life and more stable living conditions. While ongoing conflict is the most common reason for families to flee their native country, other factors such as human rights breaches and poor working conditions, can also influence their decision.
Unfortunately, other countries often close their borders or put obstacles in place that make it difficult for refugees to enter. These barriers make seeking asylum and safety much more difficult. Ensuring that refugees are granted asylum and are not forcibly returned to countries where their lives or freedoms would be threatened, is one of the key objectives highlighted by World Refugee Day.
Why is World Refugee Day held?
On December 4 2000, the United Nations General Assembly resolved that 20th June would be designated as World Refugee Day. The resolution marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention that defined who a refugee is, and set out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum - including the responsibilities of nations who grant asylum.
The United Nations states that World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for the plight of refugees, as well as to recognise their resilience in rebuilding their lives. The day aims to increase awareness in the general public of the need for refugees to find asylum, as well as to influence political will and access to the resources required by refugees to thrive in their new homes.
This World Refugee Day, ChildFund is helping support children and families facing extreme challenges in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Over 1 million people have been trapped in a forgotten situation since 2017. Overwhelmingly, the majority are children with little hope for a way out. Your support can help them navigate this ongoing crisis and stay safe.
What is the theme of World Refugee Day 2024?
The theme of World Refugee Day 2024 is ‘Whoever. Wherever. Whenever. Everyone has the right to seek safety’. This refers to the fact that everyone on this planet has the right to be safe, no matter who they are, where they come from, and when they choose to seek it. The United Nations Refugee Agency states that there are five aspects to seeking safety:
- The right to seek asylum: Any person fleeing conflict, persecution, or other human rights abuses has the right to seek protection and safety in another country.
- The need for safe access: When people need to flee danger, borders should always stay open. Sudden restrictions, border closures, or redirection make a refugee’s journey to safety even more complicated and dangerous. This shouldn’t happen.
- No pushbacks or resistance: People and families cannot be forced back to the country they came from or anywhere where their freedom and life would be threatened. Other countries should not return refugees without first weighing up the danger the person would face.
- Fair consideration - no discrimination: When refugees come to the borders, they should not be discriminated against. Every person applying for refugee status should be considered fairly, irrespective of the country they are coming from, their religion, their race, and their gender.
- Humane treatment: Anyone forced to flee danger should be treated with full dignity and respect, just like any other person. Families should be kept together, people should be protected from trafficking, and arbitrary detention should never occur.
How can I support World Refugee Day 2024?
There are several ways that you can provide support during this year’s World Refugee Day:
Donate to our Emergency Appeal Children and families living in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar desperately need the skills and tools to navigate life in extremely vulnerable conditions. They wake each day not knowing if there will be enough to eat or drink or how to best protect themselves against the violence that permeates the camp, as well as the ever-present threat of disasters. In fact, the fires are literal. Due to overcrowding, congested infrastructure and lack of proper firefighting resources, fires pose significant danger to the community. You can make a donation to our Cox's Bazar Appeal now and help children stay safe.
Create a Facebook fundraiser Did you know you can create a fundraiser on Facebook for ChildFund Australia? You can help to support this year's World Refugee Day by setting up a fundraiser for our Cox's Bazar Appeal . You can invite family and friends to donate and support the cause also.
Host a morning tea Set aside some time to talk about World Refugee Day with your co-workers by setting up a morning tea fundraiser in your office or organisation. A staff member coin donation could be suggested, with the proceeds going to our Cox's Bazar Appeal to support the increasing number of refugees in Bangladesh.
