June 20th in the United Nations World Refugee Day, and in Australia we celebrate it during a week of events from June 15th - 21st

 

Dear friends of Good Shepherd,

 

Our Social Justice Network would like to highlight another important date for you to consider and reflect upon.

 

June 20th in the United Nations World Refugee Day, and in Australia we celebrate it during a week of events from June 15th - 21st.

 

We are encouraging all to celebrate the strength and tenacity of refugees, as well as take some actions to support those in Burma, or in Refugee Centres in Australia.

 

For years, many countries and regions have been holding their own Refugee Days and even Weeks. One of the most widespread is Africa Refugee Day, which is celebrated on 20 June in several countries.

 

As an expression of solidarity with Africa, which hosts the most refugees, and which traditionally has shown them great generosity, the UN General Assembly decided that, from 2001, 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day.

 

For World Refugee Day in 2008, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is globally promoting the theme of “Refugee Protection”, whether that’s shelter or fair treatment or the right to seek asylum.

 

Australia’s Refugee Week theme of “A Place to Call Home” encourages people to think about the fundamental right to a secure place to call home.

 

It encourages us to think about our common obligations to people who have no secure home, as well as to acknowledge the 700,000 refugees and humanitarian migrants who have made Australia their home.

 

You can download the reflection sheet from this website ( just click here )