Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Post

World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on 20 June and shines a light on the rights, needs and dreams of those forced to flee. This year, World Refugee Day focuses on solidarity with refugees – for a world where refugees are welcomed. Refugees need our solidarity now more than ever. Solidarity means keeping our doors open, celebrating their strengths and achievements, and reflecting on the challenges they face. Solidarity with people forced to flee also means finding solutions to their plight – ending conflicts so they can return home in safety, ensuring they have opportunities to thrive in the communities that have welcomed them, and providing countries with the resources they need to include and support refugees. Uganda currently hosts the largest number of refugees in Africa amounting to over 1.6M and as Action Against Hunger | ACF-USA, we stand in solidarity with refugees.

Yesterday, I tuned to the ongoing 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF#2023), particularly interested in Ethiopia's pledges. Despite facing multifaced domestic challenges, Ethiopia has continued to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to welcoming and assisting refugees. This longstanding and unchanging tradition of Ethiopia deserves great appreciation. In the 2019 GRF, the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) adopted a progressive Refugee Proclamation (No. 1110/2019), granting refugees and asylum-seekers a wide range of rights and services. Many of these pledges were groundbreaking and marked a significant step forward. Additionally, in 2020, the Government ratified the 2009 Kampala Convention, further reinforcing its commitment to protecting forcibly displaced people. However, when comparing the 2023 pledges to those made in 2019, there appears to be little new in terms of direction or commitments. This year's notable pledge revolves around transforming two refugee camps into urban settlements, which is a significant and innovative approach. It signifies a big and transformative change. The remaining pledges seem to be more of a continuation of existing commitments. #GlobalRefugeeForum, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency RRSEthiopia Official

#WorldRefugeeDay This World Refugee Day, I wish to celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. But more than that, I want to do two things. Firstly, highlight that celebrating the strength of refugees is not enough. I call for: - Safe routes for refugees to seek sanctuary - Prosecute trafficking gangs who exploit refugees - Governments to actively fight against Xenophobia and discrimination (racial, ethnic) and develop policies of refugee integration and inclusion - Increased funding and support for people stuck in conflict-stricken zones so that refugees don't have to flee their countries - International community to come together to support refugees - pathways are open for government, private, and 3P sector. All it takes is willingness and an innovative strand of thought of how refugees can best benefit them - socially, politically, or economically. Secondly, I want to thank the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) and Dr. Nooralhaq Nasimi MBE, for giving me an opportunity for the past 2 years to help me make a valuable contribution to improve refugee integration in the UK, helping refugee women and girls from Afghanistan and Central Asia access practical support and other services. This World Refugee Day, let's take a step back and think, what support we would expect from others if only we were fleeing persecution?

Five years since the affirmation of the Global Compact on Refugees, conflicts, violence, climate change, and natural disasters continue driving displacement to unprecedented levels, with over 130 million people estimated to be forcibly displaced in 2023. The 2nd #GlobalRefugeeForum, which starts tomorrow, is a critical test of the political will to address the ever-increasing numbers and needs of refugees globally and transform how the international community and host governments respond to forced displacement. Ahead of the #GRF2023, a new paper "Ensuring Prosperity for Refugees and Host Communities: Priority Actions for the 2nd Global Refugee Forum" by the International Rescue Committee highlights five actions that should be prioritized by donors and host governments: ✅ Ensure economic inclusion and access to livelihoods for refugees ✅ Support refugee children’s education needs, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing ✅ Ease pressure on host countries by expanding refugee resettlement and complementary pathways ✅ Address rising needs through scaled up, multi-year funding for refugee response ✅ Shift power and resources to refugee-led and women-led organisations Find out more: https://lnkd.in/epPmRmDF Our little collaborative effort with Najmah A., Daphne Jayasinghe, Aishwarya Raje and others! International Rescue Committee EU

🌍 Today, on World Refugee Day, we stand in solidarity with refugees worldwide. This year's theme, "Solidarity with Refugees," resonates deeply with our mission at the Charter Cities Institute to build new cities that are capable of offering safety, economic opportunity, and stability to the most vulnerable, including refugees. Existing cities in Africa, as well as the current refugee camp model are obviously inadequate to meet the needs of the poor and the displaced. Now is the time to consider alternative models that offer long term solutions to refugees. 📄 I recently wrote an article on transforming refugee camps into sustainable cities, highlighting the innovative approaches and significant impact of sustainable urban development for displaced populations. You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/d_Bx25QW #WorldRefugeeDay #SolidarityWithRefugees #CharterCities #SustainableCities #RefugeeIntegration #ShirikaPlan #Kenya #Uganda

Each year on June 20th, we recognize World Refugee Day, the international day to acknowledge and honor people who have been forced to flee from their homes. Some reading this post may be refugees themselves, or a child of refugees, or know someone who is a refugee. So many people worldwide are displaced. World Refugee Day shines a light on the rights, needs, and dreams of refugees. And while it is important to protect and improve the lives of refugees every single day, international days like World Refugee Day help to focus global attention on the plight of those fleeing conflict or persecution. The theme of this year's World Refugee Day is "Hope away from Home," highlighting the need to give refugees the opportunity to study, work, and live healthy lives wherever they find safety. Inclusion is the best way to help refugees restart their lives, contribute to their new communities, and prepare them for a successful return home when conditions allow. With global forced displacement at record levels, the need for solutions and hope for millions of people fleeing conflict and persecution has never been greater. For more information, visit the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR) website: https://lnkd.in/gGjBjVih. #WithRefugees #cambodianamericans #community #supportrefugees

World Refugee Day, observed on June 20th each year, is dedicated to raising awareness about the situation of refugees worldwide. It honors the courage, strength, and resilience of millions of refugees who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. The day also aims to show solidarity with refugees and to advocate for their rights and well-being. It's an opportunity to educate people about the causes and effects of displacement and to mobilize support for refugees in need of protection and assistance. Events and activities on this day often include exhibitions, film screenings, panel discussions, and cultural performances to highlight refugee experiences and promote understanding and empathy. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) leads efforts globally to protect and support refugees and works with governments, NGOs, and other organizations to provide essential aid, shelter, and solutions for refugees around the world. #WorldRefugeeDay #RefugeesWelcome #WithRefugees #StandWithRefugees #RefugeeDay #RefugeeRights #SupportRefugees #HumanRights #GlobalSolidarity #SeekingSafety

#ESTDEV began a collaboration with the Estonian Refugee Council to empower internally displaced persons and Ukrainian refugees in #Georgia. Over the past 30 years, Georgia has seen two major armed conflicts that have led to internal refugee crises. In addition, a new crisis arose due to Russia’s unprovoked war in #Ukraine. 🔹“With creating two community councils, we try to amplify the voices of internally displaced persons and refugees, so that they resonate in issues that directly concern them,” commented Eero Janson, Director of the Estonian Refugee Council. In order to address these challenges, the Eesti Pagulasabi / Estonian Refugee Council, together with its partner the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Hub, helps to involve these target groups in processes and decisions that concern them. READ 👉https://lnkd.in/dwiNUKMC LOE 👉 https://lnkd.in/dDCP2HKW #FromThePeopleOfEstonia #StrongerTogether

Lack of access to resettlement & other routes to protection can leave #stateless people in dangerous situations and put lives at risk. As part of one of the largest refugee resettlement programmes of its kind, over 2,000 refugees from Bhutan have been resettled to Europe since 2007. Deprived of their Bhutanese nationality, some refugees in Denmark, the Netherlands & the UK are still stateless, as they are unable to meet the requirements for naturalisation in their host countries. Community members are working tirelessly to ensure a solution is found. This is an issue affecting Bhutanese & other refugee and migrant communities in Europe. Read about what needs to change & what frontline practitioners can do to support those affected in our briefing: https://lnkd.in/eFDeX28e #Statelessness #EndStatelessness