Each year on June 20th, we celebrate World Refugee Day. This day is designed to recognise and honour those who have been forced to flee to escape conflict, seek safety and rebuild their lives. World Refugee Day first began in 2001 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention regarding the Status of Refugees.
As stated on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ website safety is not just the absence of violence. It means the legal protection, shelter, health care, education, the right to work, and the chance to rebuild and live in dignity.
Many refugees flee with only the clothes on their backs, forced to leave behind their homes, jobs, and loved ones. Not only do the reasons for fleeing cause immense distress, but in some cases, the journey itself can also be traumatic. Some suffer a violation of human rights, become injured, or even see their family and friends attacked or killed.
STATS FROM UNHCR
- As of the end of December 2025, there were 41.6 million refugees globally
- Most refugees want to return home once it is safe to do so. In 2025, 4.4 million were able to
In times like these, we build on the promise of safety. We build a world where being a refugee is only a chapter in a person’s life, not their whole life story. Until everyone is safe, we keep showing up.
For related information in our Secondary resource, view Unit 11, Part 2 and Unit 18, Part 6.
