World Refugee Day 2004: Italy

On 18 June, UNHCR held a World Refugee Day conference on durable solutions at Rome's Palazzo Rospigliosi with the participation of Italian government authorities, politicians, NGOs, academics and the media.

From 21-26 June, the Municipality of Rome joined UNHCR to organise Refugee Week, which took place in Museum Centrale Montemartini, a former power station converted into a museum. Refugee Week included several events which were carried out with the cooperation of different NGOs and associations. Activities included a photo exhibition ("The Return") on the repatriation of Burundian refugees from Tanzania, and theatre performances by refugees. There were also a concert and conferences on asylum law and refugee experiences.

On 21 June, UNHCR and Christie's held an art auction in the Museum of San Salvatore in Lauro with 48 works of art donated to UNHCR to fund a project for sustainable water sources for Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia.