World Refugee Day

EXCERPTS FROM THE UNHCR:
The United Nations General Assembly designated June 20 as World Refugee Day to recognize and celebrate the contribution of refugees throughout the world. Since then, World Refugee Day has become an annual commemoration marked by a variety of events in over a hundred countries.

This year's theme: Protecting Refugees: Refugee Rights are Human Rights

Forced to flee their homes and having lost everything, refugees have clear needs – shelter, food, safety, protection. But refugees also have rights, the right to seek asylum, the right not to be returned to a country where they fear persecution, the right to work and to send their children to school.

This year, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will commemorate World Refugee Day for the eighth time in Washington, DC, and San Francisco in order to draw the public’s attention to the millions of refugees world-wide who are forced to flee their homes. In Washington, UNHCR has again partnered with well-respected institutions to broaden our outreach and encourage even greater public participation in the celebration of World Refugee Day. Together with the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall, World Affairs Council of Northern California and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millennium Stage, UNHCR will sponsor musical performances, discussion panels and a film screening.

IF YOU ARE IN LOUISVILLE: Kentucky Refugee Ministries invites you to come eat, dance, and play games with members of Louisville's refugee community on Friday June 20th from 1:00-3:00pm at Tyler Park. Participate in the KRM staff and client soccer game!

Further explore refugee issues with these recommended books: Left to Tell, From the Land of Green Ghosts, and Sarajevo Marlboro.

Then join us to discuss your impressions and reactions to these books with a panel of experts and former refugees on Sunday July 27th from 3:00-5:00pm in the Chao Auditorium.

Please visit the Kentucky Refugee Ministries website or call the KRM office at (502)479-9180 for more information.