UK Celebrates World Refugee Day

Thousands of Britons participated in this year’s celebrations of Refugee Week, timed to coincide with the UN-sponsored World Refugee Day. Artists, politicians, young professionals and journalists were among those who came together to show their support of people fleeing persecution and war.

On World Refugee Day itself, 20th June, the work of refugee charities was highlighted in  Parliament, when the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, confirmed the UK Government’s support: “We must make it clear that this country should always be open to genuine refugees fleeing tyranny. This country has a very proud record in that regard, and I am sure that that will continue”.

More than 100 Members of Parliament signed up to an Early Day Motion pledging their support to the plight of refugees worldwide, and the importance of the UNHCR’s role in managing it along with the fundamental support of the government. 

This echoed a call by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, who said: "We cannot do this alone. But with your support UNHCR can begin to turn the tide, giving refugees hope for the future and new opportunities for their families and their communities".

Refugee children were also under focus. At the UN Association’s Young Professional Network conference on the same date, keynote speaker Bemma Donkoh, the UNHCR representative in the UK, along with UNHCR’s partners in the Ninemillion.org campaign, Nike, noted the necessity to remember the most vulnerable groups within the refugee community. “Each one of us should gain an understanding of what it is to be a refugee, and take action to help create a better future for many of them”, Donkoh said.

The arts world paid tribute to the refugee community through a new show, Asylum Monologues, staged in 12 venues nation-wide. The London performance attended by policy-makers and government officials was introduced by acclaimed playwright Sir David Hare, who spoke of displacement as this century’s main dilemma.

Organised by Actors for Refugees in collaboration with Ice and Fire theatre and co-sponsored by UNHCR and Refugee Action, performances were fully booked and audiences reported being moved by the personal accounts of the UK’s asylum system.

A new paper also emerged for the occasion, reaching over 100,000 Londoners. The New Londoners - a free newspaper sponsored by the UNHCR, Oxfam and the charity coalition Refugee Week - exposed the contributions refugees have made to the cultural life of London, and brought balance to the media coverage they receive.

But it wasn’t just in London that the media decided to take steps to improve the depiction of asylum seekers and refugees. In Scotland, the Asylum Positive Images Network – a collaboration between various charities and the National Union of Journalists - hosted an awards ceremony for journalists who have contributed exceptional and fair reporting of asylum in Scotland.

At the ceremony, Scottish Refugee Council chief executive Sally Daghlian stressed the initiative’s importance: "Most people will never knowingly meet a refugee. Their perceptions of who refugees are and why they flee to Scotland come mainly from the media. Scottish journalists are setting the standard on honest and accurate reporting on asylum issues contributing to the sympathetic attitude that exists in Scotland towards people seeking refuge."

The awards were one of the events sponsored by UNHCR in the UK. Around the country, hundreds more were taking place under the inter-agency Refugee Week initiative.

Across the globe celebrations of World Refugee day included a wide range of activities such as film festivals, photo exhibitions, food bazaars, fashion shows, concerts and sport competitions. The Day was introduced by the UN Refugee Agency in 2001 as a way to encourage better understanding between communities against the backdrop of an ever-more interconnected world.

To find out more about events taking place on World Refugee Day or order posters and leaflets, please contact the Public Information Unit