When is World Refugee Day?
June 20th is World Refugee Day.
What is World Refugee Day?
War and prejudice create thousands of refugees a day. When you don’t see it, it’s easy to ignore. It’s less easy to ignore when you see the dazed look in the eyes of people who just ran out of a warzone. World Refugee Day spreads the word about the number of refugees in the world and the unique challenges they face.
Refugees are not tourists—far from it. They have fled their homes because prejudice has created a very real danger of persecution. Asylum seekers are refugees whose claim to refugee status hasn’t yet been evaluated by the country they are trying to enter.
Some seek asylum from political and social violence. Others need a place to put down roots because they have no country or recognized nationality. They flee religious persecution and warfare and genocide.
Even once they’ve received refugee status in a new country, the journey isn’t over. They have to find housing and jobs, learn the language, and give their kids an education. World Refugee Day raises awareness about the many other challenges they face and how the rest of us can help.
Facts about World Refugee Day!
- Terror and persecution force 20 people to flee their communities every minute.
- The UN Human Rights Commission estimates that 68.5 million people lived under some kind of refugee status in 2018, and over 3 million of them were still waiting for asylum.
- The Uyghurs of central Asia and the Yoruba people in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo are just a few examples of stateless peoples, groups with no country and with a vulnerability to national and racial persecution.
How to celebrate World Refugee Day:
- Host an event to raise awareness and fundraising for global refugees.
- Volunteer your time and resources to resettlement services for refugees in your area.
What’s the hashtag for World Refugee Day?
Use #WorldRefugeeDay on social media to promote the care of refugees.