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20 June / 2016

HRC's Statement on World Refugee Day 2016

Category: Press Release

Today, 20 June 2016 is World Refugee Day. First observed in 2001 on the 50th anniversary of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the day seeks to recognise and raise awareness of the millions of refugees and displaced persons globally.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ("UNHCR") defines a refugee as: “someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.”

Click to view   other information on the  HRC's Statement on World Refugee Day 2016.