Promila Kaul Pandita
Cynthia Basinet says, “Displaced Societies are of value. Their issues are our issues.” And if we are sensitive enough to understand the pathos and concern contained in the statement ,it won’t be difficult to realise the need of paying attention to a grave threat to humanism and humanity in a world where violence forces thousands of families to flee for their lives each day and seek refuge either in one’s own country or some foreign land. June 20 every year is dedicated to raising awareness of the situations of refugees throughout the world. Before we arrive at some inferential data about World Refugee Day , let’s define who can be declared a refugee
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. Owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion , is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or owing to such fear is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country. They are vulnerable and in need but are often misunderstood and maligned. In most of the cases they have very little or nothing of their possessions and little food. They often have to leave their homes with nothing or with what they can carry. They are traumatized besides suffering from hunger , disease, despair , fear-psychosis , feeling of nothingness and disowned , violence and loss. They seem to be a broken nerve as they are mentally shattered and broken.
For years many countries and regions have been holding their own Refugee Days and even weeks. One of the most widespread is African Refugee Day which is celebrated on June 20 in several countries. On December 04 2000 , The United General Assembly adopted a Resolution 55/76 wherein it noted that ” 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) had agreed to have International refugee Day coincide with African Refugee Day on 20 June.” The General Assembly , therefore decided that 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day.
World Refugee Day honours the strength and courage of those people who have had to flee their homelands because of conflict natural disaster. As Kofi Annan remarked: ” I urge you celebrate the extraordinary courage and contribution of refugees past and present.”
First marked in 2001, millions of people around the world take time to recognize and applaud the contribution of forcibly displaced people throughout the world. It is celebrated to raise awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world. Observance of this day seeks to draw attention to the plight of refugees and also to celebrate their courage, resilience and to renew commitment to solve refugee problems. It seems worth mentioning here that World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated (by the church) each year since 1914.
The day is about raising global awareness of global responsibility for refugees and to create a sense of brotherhood and oneness among global communities irrespective of caste, creed, religion, race or any other discriminating factor. World acknowledged scientist has very aptly said , ” The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. ”
Therefore, since 2001 , a theme is selected to focus upon on World Refugee Day, which reflects the various events and awareness programmes to be taken up for refugees worldwide.
2019 is the 19th year of the event, run by the United Nations Refugee Agency , to state the world supports and stands with refugees. World Refugee Day 2019 will mark a key moment for the public worldwide to show support for families forced to flee.
This year’s theme is ‘ Global compact on refugees’, which calls for investment in communities that host refugees to help ease the pressure on the host and to help refugees become self- reliant. The awareness day is to help public understanding of refugees as well as raising support and help for the cause and welfare of humanity in general and refugees in particular.
Across the world, agencies , both governmental and non-governmental work tirelessly to help refugees to ensure that they are treated fairly and provided for, rather than being neglected or shunned.
As Martin Luther King Jr had remarked that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere” Therefore, if any kind of injustice is meted out to refugees and migrants, we have to show our concern and owe it as oursupreme duty by virtue of being responsible towards human value and dignity and for bringing coherence among human civilizations and fostering faith and trust among human beings as equals without any prejudice or judgemental aversions.
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