Every year on 20 June, the globe comes together to honour the World Refugee Day. The holiday was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 and celebrated for the first time in 2001, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Since then, the worldwide community has spent the day focusing on ways to improve the lives of refugees. Most of us know that refugees are forced to leave their homes due to war, terror, or other crises — but fleeing their home country is often just the beginning of a very tough journey. A lot of refugees find themselves living in camps until they are resettled — some of which are dangerous or not well-equipped for long term living. Refugees do not always have a say as to which country they are ultimately relocated to, and the bureaucratic processes involved in finding their new home can take even years.
Worldwide refugee crises have taken center stage in the news in recent years, so it is more crucial than ever to share support and to celebrate World Refugee Day. The day is an opportunity for everyone to experience, understand and celebrate the rich diversity of the communities of refugees. Events such as theatrical plays, concerts, and film screenings aim to allow refugee community organisations, voluntary and statutory organisations, local councils, and schools to honour the cause. The World Refugee Day is also celebrated through World Refugee Week and is designed to provide an important chance for asylum seekers and refugees to be noticed, listened to and valued by the community that they are living in.
If you are keen on practising your interpreting skills and learning more about topics related to refugees, migration, human rights and humanitarian aid, enter the Speech Repository. Our bank of speeches offers you texts in multiple languages, on various subjects and levels of difficulty. Let’s get going!
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Your Speech Repository Team