About World Refugee Day 2008
© UNHCR photo
On June 20, we celebrate World Refugee Day. This year, events around the world focus on the fundamental need for protection. For some, this means economic security; for others, protection is freedom from violence and persecution. On World Refugee Day, we turn our attention to the millions of refugees who live without material, social and legal protection.
Since its foundation in 1951, UNHCR has protected tens of millions of refugees. For us, protection consists of tangible improvements in the lives of forcibly displaced people - from the provision of food and shelter to support for those lacking legal status or those wishing to return to their home countries. On World Refugee Day, we commemorate this vital engagement.
Protection is also about raising awareness. We cannot protect refugees if their plight remains invisible. On World Refugee Day, we will highlight the universal nature of protection. Not only are refugees protected all around the globe, but the responsibility for protection is equally global.
Ultimately, protection is a challenge that knows no borders. Neither can it be left to a single agency to provide. On World Refugee Day, we are launching a global call for action. We want to promote engagement at the grassroots level, in local communities, workplaces and online. Only through a global network of supporters can we meet the manifold needs of protection.
How can you help?
Online social utilities provide excellent tools for advocacy. Become a fan on Facebook, support our cause and share our videos, photos and latest news with your friends. You can also find us on MySpace, YouTube and Flickr.
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IOM and UNHCR chiefs stress that COVID-19 underlines the urgent need for universal health coverage
11 Dec 2020 -
Statement attributable to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on the situation in Ethiopia's Tigray region
11 Dec 2020 -
Yemenis displaced by conflict now face threats of looming famine
11 Dec 2020 -
Ethiopian refugees report obstacles to reach safety in Sudan as numbers approach 50,000
11 Dec 2020 -
UNHCR forum weighs lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
10 Dec 2020 The final session of this year's High Commissioner's Dialogue considered solutions for responding to future global emergencies. -
High Commissioner's remarks at the global launch ceremony of the Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants Regional Response Plan 2021
10 Dec 2020 -
Forced back home by the pandemic, Venezuelan grandmother sees no choice but to flee once again
10 Dec 2020 With lockdown making it all but impossible for many Venezuelan refugees and migrants to meet their basic needs, thousands have headed home – only to have to flee again. -
Birth registration gaps leave South Africans in limbo
10 Dec 2020 UNHCR is working with the South African government to help people at risk of statelessness obtain vital identity documents. -
US$1.44 billion needed to support refugees and migrants from Venezuela amid COVID-19
10 Dec 2020 Joint UNHCR-IOM Press Release