The year 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. The UN General Assembly therefore decided that 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day from 2001 onwards.
Since then Refugee week is now a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural and educational events and activities that celebrates the contribution of refugees to the UK and promotes better understanding of why people seek sanctuary. Anyone can take part by organising, attending or taking part in activities.
This year during Refugee Week we are invited to discover the experiences of displacement that are found in our families, neighbourhoods and history. The theme of Refugee Week this year is, ‘You, me and those who came before’, and is an invitation to explore the lives of refugees – and those who have welcomed them – throughout the generations. people escaping war and persecution have been welcomed by communities in the UK for hundreds of years, and their stories and contributions are all around us. From the Jewish refugees of the 1930s to people fleeing Vietnam in the 1970s, Kosovans in the 1990s to those arriving today; they are part of who we all are.
This year during World Refugee Week, June 16-23, 2019, people are also invited to join the Ration Challenge. You are asked to commit to eating and drinking the same rations as a Syrian refugee living in a camp in Jordan, and the money raised will provide food, medicine and education for refugees and people living in poverty around the world.
It’s a tough challenge but you will be joining others raising money and awareness for refugees and showing that your with them, and not against them.
Take the Challenge
For more information about Refugee Week visit http://refugeeweek.org.uk/
