20 19 Why was World Refugee Day established?

Refugees are just like you and me, no different from others. They lived a normal life before they were displaced. Their biggest dream is to live a normal life again. On this World Refugee Day, let's revisit our common humanity, carry forward the spirit of tolerance and pluralism, and accept refugees from all over the world with an open mind. "

-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's speech on World Refugee Day

1. Introduction to UNHCR

UNHCR was established in February 1950 14/UN General Assembly, and started its work on June 5438+1 0/day of the following year. The organization helps displaced people all over the world, providing them with necessities such as tents, food, water and medicine in an emergency, and seeking long-term solutions to problems, including voluntary repatriation or starting a new life in a new country. For more than 50 years, the organization has helped more than 50 million people to start a new life. In 2004, more than 6,000 staff from more than 65,438+020 countries continued to help about 65,438+07,000,000 people.

2. Who are the refugees?

According to 195 1 Convention on the Status of Refugees, a refugee refers to a person who has a justified fear of persecution because of his race, religion, nationality, political opinions or a special group, and is unable or unwilling to return home because of this World Refugee Day.

3. Why was World Refugee Day established?

Just as we set up Mother's Day to commemorate our mothers, we hope that refugees all over the world will be remembered on a special day. Over the years, many countries and regions have set up refugee days and even refugee weeks, the most influential of which is the African Refugee Day held in many countries on June 20 every year. Africa hosts the largest number of refugees and is very generous to them. In order to express gratitude to Africa, in 2000, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to designate June 20th as World Refugee Day.

refugee

definition

"Refugees" are divided into economic refugees, natural disaster refugees, war refugees and political refugees. Economic refugees refer to people who are "voluntarily" displaced for the sake of improving their lives, also known as illegal immigrants. Natural disaster refugees refer to people who are forced to leave their homes due to earthquakes, severe floods and droughts. They often return to their countries of origin through temporary relief. War refugees refer to people who have left their homes to escape the war, including "refugees" and political refugees without political inclination. [ 1 1]

number of people

Over the past 60 years, more than 750 million people around the world have been forced to leave their homes and become refugees because of wars and disasters. Thanks to the joint efforts of UNHCR and the international community, millions of refugees have been able to return home. Due to the turbulent situation in Iraq, the number of refugees in the world has been rising continuously since 2006. [1 1- 12] By the end of 2007, the number of global refugees had increased from 9.9 million in 2006 to1440,000.

In 20 12, we paid attention to more than 45.2 million people, including refugees (15.4 million), displaced persons (28.8 million) and asylum seekers (937,000). Nearly half of them are children, accounting for 46%.

The difference between refugees and displaced persons

According to 195 1 the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees signed by the United Nations in Geneva on July 28th, and1967+3/the Refugee Protocol revised by the United Nations in new york on July 28th, the definition of a refugee is: for just reasons, A person who fears persecution outside his own country because of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinions, and is unable or unwilling to be protected by that country because of this fear, or a stateless person is unable or unwilling to return to that country because he stays outside his previous habitual residence because of the above-mentioned things. [ 14]

Unlike refugees, internally displaced persons have no legal definition. However, the United Nations report Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement uses this definition:

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are individuals or groups who are forced to flee their homes or habitual residences, especially to escape armed conflict, generalized violence, human rights violations or natural and man-made disasters, which do not cross internationally recognized borders.

This definition emphasizes two important factors of internal displacement (forced and internal migration), but it should be pointed out that the guiding principles do not give a strict definition, but only describe the identity characteristics of such people concerned by the guiding principles. Therefore, the Guiding Principles do not emphasize legal accuracy, but have some flexibility, and the causes of displacement listed in this document are not comprehensive. However, as ErinMooney pointed out: "International data on internal displacement generally only include people who have left their homes because of conflicts and human rights issues." [16] In addition, a study shows that the definition of internally displaced persons should be narrower, only referring to those displaced by violent situations. Many people think that internally displaced persons and refugees should actually be the same kind of people, and internally displaced persons will become refugees once they cross the border.

solution

Protecting and helping refugees is mainly the responsibility of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees stipulates that States parties should give certain treatment to refugees within their territory, including national treatment in primary education, public relief, labor and social security. Give preferential treatment at least not lower than that of ordinary foreigners in movable and immovable property, free occupation and housing. ; Countries should respect refugees' right to personal identity, give them identity documents and protect them from deportation, and try their best to facilitate the naturalization and assimilation of refugees. Internally displaced persons in countries experiencing armed conflicts fall within the mandate of the International Committee of the Red Cross. As civilians, internally displaced persons are entitled to protection and assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (protection of civilians/visits to detainees, medical assistance or food assistance, restoration of contact with family members separated by war, etc.). ).

There are generally three ways to solve the refugee problem: voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement in a third country. The international community appeals that when helping young refugees, we should not only solve their nutrition and health problems, but also provide them with education and training opportunities, constantly tap the potential of young refugees and prepare for their future development. [ 18]

In terms of refugee resettlement, Pakistan is the largest refugee receiving country in the world, with 1.79 million foreign refugees living in Pakistan, most of whom are from Afghanistan. Iran is the second largest resettlement country for refugees, with about 870,000 refugees, most of whom are also from Afghanistan, and a considerable number of refugees are from Iraq. Kenya ranks third, with about 570,000 refugees, mainly from Somalia. Despite limited resources, developing countries still receive about 80% of the refugees in the world.