Refugee Congress Commemorates World Refugee Day
For Immediate Release: June 20, 2022
WASHINGTON–Today we celebrate World Refugee Day, an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the world.
We take this day to celebrate the presence and value of refugees in our communities. Refugees make this country a better place – as neighbors, coworkers and friends.
Today we also raise awareness about forced displacement. Globally, we are experiencing an unprecedented crisis of displacement, with more than 100 million people displaced, including 31 million refugees and 4.4 million asylum seekers.
“World Refugee Day has a special, deep meaning in my soul. It is the day on which I laid down my luggage, announcing the end of my escape. I enjoyed my journey to start a new life in a new homeland, where I met many challenges that were not broken by strife, but rather by determination and strength,” said Khamisa Abdalla, Refugee Congress Delegate for Nebraska.
This year’s World Refugee Day theme is Seeking Safety. Seeking safety is a non-negotiable human right. Wherever they come from, people forced to flee should be welcomed and protected.
“Each year on World Refugee Day, I think about the fact that I am here because my grandparents survived a war and found safety to rebuild their lives. This year, we are celebrating World Refugee Day while witnessing the largest number of forcibly displaced people in history. We must take time to celebrate the incredible joy and diversity refugees bring to our communities, and to reflect on the sacrifices and injustices that so many have made as we continue to fight for a more accessible and equitable system of welcome, both here in the U.S. and globally,” said Nili Sarit Yossinger, Executive Director of Refugee Congress.
We call on our elected officials to create policies and processes that welcome and support refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants. State and local elected officials are invited to sign onto this letter calling for support for refugee resettlement.
“For refugees and immigrants, being given a second chance to live is like a child losing their mother and being handed to an orphanage for adoption. The new family becomes a second home for that child. No one's mother can be replaced, but an adopted mom can still choose to treat a child right when they lead with love. We did not decide to leave our homes by choice. Situations forced us. This is what you call life, and it can happen to anyone,” said Sharon Njie, Refugee Congress Delegate for Louisiana.
Join Refugee Congress for World Refugee Day: Honoring Refugee Women Leaders & Artists June 26 from 7-9pm ET. Register here to attend. Learn about other World Refugee Day celebrations across the U.S. here.
We need your voice and support to make the changes needed to ensure that all refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants have the welcome and support they need.
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Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by former refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants to promote the well-being, integration and dignity of all vulnerable migrants. With delegates across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we use our voices and experiences to inform and influence decision-makers on critical domestic and international issues that affect our communities.
MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 905-6238, media@refugeecongress.org
