World Refugee Day is celebrated on 20 June. This annual event, established by the United Nations, provides an opportunity for us to come together to recognise and learn about the strength, courage and determination of those forced to flee their homes due to war, violence, persecution and human rights violations.
This year’s edition is of particular significance, as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Geneva Convention, a cornerstone of international law that guarantees protection to those fleeing their homes – now numbering more than 117 million people.
To mark the occasion, and in light of growing global instability, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) is launching the global campaign ‘Until Everyone is Safe’, because no one is safe until the most vulnerable among us are safe, and the protection of refugees must be a shared responsibility.
Welcoming others not only enriches those who arrive, but also transforms and improves those who open their doors.
