Celebrating World Refugee Day 2023
World Refugee Day shines a light on the rights, needs and dreams of refugees, helping to mobilise political will and resources so refugees can not only survive but also thrive.
Today, the movement of refugees remains one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently announced that in the past decade alone, over 100 million individuals have been displaced – which means over 1.2% of the global population has been forced to abandon their homes. Among these people, 32.5 million are refugees – many fleeing conflicts in Syria, Ukraine, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (one of the world’s largest ‘forgotten’ humanitarian crises).
At WorldRemit, we champion all migrants: both free-moving immigrants, and less fortunate refugees. But it’s important to understand the difference, stipulated by law, between these two types of people in transit. An ‘immigrant’ is an individual moving to live and work in a different country; a ‘refugee’, however, is an individual fleeing persecution, conflict, or climate-related disaster in their home country – often enduring harrowing, life-threatening conditions on the way. Ultimately, the difference is ‘choice’. Refugees have no choice, no prerogative, and so they’re always at the mercy of other nations’ kindness.
Many of the WorldRemit team are first or second-generation migrants, proud to fly two flags. We’ve also recently launched our I*mMigrant campaign. Our intention is to shift outdated migrant narratives; and champion the world of difference all migrants – immigrants and refugees, alike – can make.
So, in this article we’re going to celebrate World Refugee Day. We’ll explore its history, and look at how it’s commemorated around the world – principally by the UK, the US, Australia and Canada.
WorldRemit Content Team
• 3 mins read • Updated
The History of World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day was first celebrated on 20th June 2001, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Together with the later established 1967 Protocol, this convention formed the basis of the UNHCR’s work. Ultimately, it defined the term ‘refugee’ and outlined the rights and fair treatment of all refugees.
At its core is the ‘non refoulement’ principle. This crucial principle asserts the fundamental law that a refugee should never be returned to a country where they face serious threat to their life or freedom. The convention also outlines a set of requirements mandating the basic minimum treatment of refugees – including the right to housing, work, and education. All of which enables refugees to live an independent, dignified and fulfilling life while displaced from their mother country. Lastly, the convention states a refugee’s obligations to the host country; and also specifies certain categories of people who do not qualify for refugee status, such as war criminals.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the 1951 Refugee Convention was largely a consequence of the immense amount of displacement – on a global scale – following the first and second world wars. The process began under the League of Nations in 1921, and ultimately culminated with the 1951 Convention, and the inauguration of the UNHCR.
How is World Refugee Day celebrated?
On World Refugee Day, the entire world commemorates the efforts and resilience of refugees. The UNHCR leads a celebration of the outstanding global contribution refugees make in the face of extreme plight; and works to encourage empathy and understanding on a worldwide scale.
Each year, World Refugee Day also has a particular theme. This year, we celebrate the power of inclusion and solution. The UNHCR has even released an inspiring statement, communicating the sentiment it wishes to spread: “Hope away from Home. A world where refugees are always included”.
We can all help in realising the UNHCR’s vision of a brighter tomorrow for refugees. By simply including refugees in our communities, and by acting with compassion and patience, we can help them restart their lives.
If you’re looking to get involved, and make a difference this World Refugee Day, there’s plenty you can do. You could fundraise or donate, raise awareness in your local community, or even volunteer – at home or abroad. Just take a look at UNHCR’s site, you’ll find plenty of inspiration.
Supporting refugees with WorldRemit
At WorldRemit, we champion all migrants: immigrants living and working in new countries, and refugees on their difficult journey to being granted asylum. Our mission is simple: to empower them all, and help tell their stories.
We hope this article has been revealing – for more insights head over to our blog. You’ll find a selection of helpful and informative articles put together especially for people living and working abroad.
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