World Refugee Day 2023- ‘Hope away from Home’

World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. Each year, it falls on the 20th of June and celebrates the strength and courage of people forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day was first held globally in 2001, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It was initially known as Africa Refugee Day before the United Nations General Assembly officially designated it as an international day in December 2000.

It is crucial to protect and improve the lives of refugees daily, and international days like World Refugee Day help focus global attention on the plight of those fleeing conflict or persecution. Many activities held on World Refugee Day create opportunities to support refugees. Each year, World Refugee Day is marked by various events in many countries around the globe in support of refugees. These activities are led by or involve refugees, government officials, host communities, companies, celebrities, school children and the general public. The 2023 theme of World Refugee Day is “hope away from home” and focuses on the power of inclusion and solutions for refugees. Including refugees in the communities where they have found safety after fleeing conflict and persecution supports them in restarting their lives. It is also the best way to prepare them to return home and rebuild their countries when conditions allow them to do so safely and voluntarily or to thrive if they resettle in another country.