Originally published on the CGS blog on June 20, 2011.
Global citizens are commemorating World Refugee Day throughout the world today by participating in cultural events and reflecting on the experiences of those who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict. For example, 19 year old Sahar from Baghdad, Iraq who is living as a refugee in Damascus, shared their personal story to advocate for the rights of refugees.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, released the 2010 Global Trends report today that states that there are 43.7 million displaced people worldwide. The report also explains that 80% of refugees are hosted by developing countries.
On World Refugee Day, it is also important to take into consideration essential roles of peacekeeping operations in conflict areas. As the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres stated, “We need to do more to promote peace in the countries that refugees come from and to support them to return home in safety and dignity.” In order to successfully maintain peace and protect citizens, the U.S. Government must continue providing support for U.N. peacekeeping troops in conflict zones. You can take action to protect U.N. and Peacekeeping funding by sending a message to your congressmen.
In commemoration of World Refugee Day, take a moment to take action and educate yourself about the world’s refugees. Some informative websites are: UNHCR 1 is Too Many Campaign, Refugees International, and the International Rescue Committee.
