Refugee Week celebrated from June 20 to June 26 every year is a day to honor refugees and appreciate the contributions, creativity, and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Do you know how many people are displaced from home each year? More than 82.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes, more than ever before. This means one in 95 people — over one % of the world’s population — is displaced. This is a day for all of us to support, help and appreciate everyone who is displaced from their homes and is suffering as refugees. Let’s take a stand to make their life better.
History of Refugee Week
Refugee Week is a special U.K.-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity, and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. It was founded in 1998 to celebrate the contribution of refugees to the U.K., and to encourage a better understanding between communities. From the inception of Refugee Week till now, it has always been a growing global movement.
Refugee Week is a platform that holds hundreds of arts, cultural, and educational events alongside media and creative campaigns. The celebrations that happen during Refugee Week are intended to help people from different backgrounds come together and also to create awareness of the reasons refugees exist in the first place. It also tries to shed light on the challenges the refugees face when seeking safety in different countries. This is why Refugee Week has been more of a platform for people who have sought safety in the U.K. to share their experiences and stories in their own way.
Regardless of color, class, gender, sexuality, age, or immigration status, refugees and asylum seekers form a diverse community with unique experiences. However, Refugee Week’s objective has remained unchanged since its inception — refugees and asylum seekers must be able to live safely within inclusive and resilient communities where they can continue to contribute. Let us all join together this Refugee Week to show our support for those who have lost their homes and lives, and welcome them all with open arms.
Refugee Week timeline
The Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland introduces The Alien Act.
Many people become homeless and orphans as a result of World War II.
Refugee Week is founded as a global movement to honor refugees.
Nations worldwide plan to act on the issues concerning refugees and migrants.
Refugee Week FAQs
Who is considered a refugee?
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence.
What are the hardships faced by refugees?
According to recent polls, some of the biggest challenges faced by immigrants are language barriers, lack of employment opportunities, housing, access to medical services, and prejudice.
Who are some of the famous refugees?
More than 25 million refugees are living in the world today. Some of the successful and famous refugees are Mila Kunis, Regina Spektor, and Madeline Albright.
How to Observe Refugee Week
Help and contribute
Spread awareness and appreciation for all the hardworking refugees in your local community. Help them in any way you can.
Take part in celebrations
One of the impactful ways in which you can take part in Refugee Week is by participating in the celebrations. You can get involved by holding or joining an event or activity.
Share your story
If you’re someone who has been displaced from home or know someone who was displaced from home, share your story with the world. Use social media and let the world know about your experience.
5 Amazing Facts About Refugees
The numbers don’t lie
There are refugees in many parts of the world with as many as 48 million people being displaced in their own countries.
Children suffer a lot
About 42% of all forcibly displaced people are children under 18.
Refugee children need education
More than half of all refugee children aren’t in school.
These countries top the list
Most refugees fled from Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar.
There are one million refugees born
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of children born as refugees between 2018 and 2020 is at least one million.
Why Refugee Week is Important
The world needs to think about the plight of refugees
Refugee Week is a much-needed day that emphasizes that the safety of each of us matters to all of us. Everyone has a right to have a place they can call home that is safe for them and their families.
It is open to all
Refugee Week is an open platform, more of a festival that welcomes a wide range of responses suited to many different contexts. The organization aims to make its activities more inclusive.
It’s arts and culture
We can all accept that arts and culture can help us see migration and displacement differently. So creating connections across differences and taking the experiences of refugees helps us live better together.
Refugee Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | June 20 | Thursday |
| 2025 | June 20 | Friday |
| 2026 | June 20 | Saturday |
| 2027 | June 20 | Sunday |
| 2028 | June 20 | Tuesday |
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