World Refugee Day 2004 National Activity Plan: Switzerland

Numerous festivities will be organised, mainly by national and local NGOs, in more than 30 cities in almost all of the 26 cantons in Switzerland to celebrate and pay tribute to the millions of refugees worldwide.

On 18 June, in Bern, the President of the Swiss Federation, Joseph Deiss, will begin the day with an opening speech held at the Saal Restaurant Don Camillo. Members of Parliament and experts will participate in public roundtable discussions.

Sports activities, such as a football match "Africa Vs Juvenat", and a hot air balloon ride will take place in the Canton of Aargau.

Many musical performances and traditional dances from the Middle East, South America and Africa will be held in Baden, Kreuzlingen, Lausanne and other places.

Films, theatre productions and intercultural discussion forums will be held in Solothurn, Luzern and Lenzburg respectively.

Food and drinks from around the world can be enjoyed at the numerous market stands that have been set up for this special day. For more information, please visit www.osar.ch.

In Geneva, the Jet d'eau fountain will be lit up in UN blue.

UNHCR and the Swiss Refugee Council will develop, print and distribute ads, posters and flyers throughout Switzerland in order to stress the importance of the national World Refugee Day theme, "integration".