Showing Global Solidarity For World Refugee Day

Thousands of people leave their homes in another country each year to seek safety. While people can mobilize political will and have compassion for the lives of refugees daily, World Refugee Day is a chance for people and governments worldwide to show global solidarity. On this day, individuals and communities can celebrate the strength, courage, and plight of those forced to flee their homes to seek a better life.

Therapy can be an effective option for refugees

Find a non-judgmental therapist

What is World Refugee Day?

According to the United Nations (UN), every minute, 20 people leave everything behind to escape persecution, war, or terror. To address the critical needs of these people and their communities, World Refugee Day is celebrated on June 20 every year. The UN designated this international event in 2001 to remind all countries to keep their minds and doors open, recognize the plight of people forced to flee, and reflect on their unique challenges. 

World Refugee Day can also be a reminder that the global community is often responsible for finding solutions to the problems that cause these challenges, including ending conflicts and providing countries with what they need to support displaced people. In addition, awareness focuses on ensuring refugees receive support in all areas, from reproductive health services to education and court access.

The history of World Refugee Day

The first World Refugee Day was held on June 20th, 2001, to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. This convention and the 1967 Protocol are the only global legal instruments covering important aspects of a refugee’s life and laying out the standards of how refugees should be treated in other countries. They also highlight refugees' obligations toward their host countries. 

Central to this convention is the concept of non-refoulement. This principle states that those with refugee status should not be returned to a country where they are facing serious threats to their freedom or life unless the refugee can be regarded as a danger to the security of the host country or host communities or has been convicted of a serious crime.

What is a refugee?

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee their own country due to violence, persecution, or armed conflict. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), today, 73% of all refugees come from just five countries: Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Sudan.

Reasons why people are forced to flee: Persecution, violence, natural disasters, and more

Not everyone who chooses to leave home is fleeing danger. Some people may leave their home country to pursue an education or because they think they will be better able to provide for their family if they seek opportunities elsewhere. These people are generally not considered refugees. 

Refugees are people forced to leave their homes because it may be too dangerous to stay who seek protection and wish to escape conflict, hunger, poverty, the consequences of natural disasters or climate change, or because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Types of displaced persons

Various terms are used for displaced persons, some of which overlap, including the following. 

Refugees

A refugee is someone who has been forced to leave their home country due to war, violence, persecution, natural disasters, or climate change. They may be unable to return home due to a fear for their safety or the safety of their families.

Asylum seekers

An asylum seeker is someone who seeks international protection but has yet to apply for refugee status or have their application processed. Crossing a border for safety is often considered an illegal entry, so a refugee must apply. All refugees were once asylum seekers, but not all asylum seekers are considered refugees.

Internally displaced persons

Internally displaced persons are similar to refugees. However, they have been forced to leave their homes and have remained in their own countries. Some may remain in their own country while others may eventually cross an international border; at this point, they would be considered refugees.

Stateless persons

Stateless people are not citizens of any country. Statelessness can happen when someone’s parents don’t register their birth, so they never receive a birth certificate or other legal paperwork to verify their identity. Stateless people are often not allowed to attend school or get a job, which puts them at high risk of exploitation and a lifetime of working informal, low-paying jobs. They may also be unable to open a bank account, work, get married, or buy a home.

Migrants

A migrant is someone who has moved away from home, whether within their own country or across an international border. Although there is no official definition of “migrant,” one widely accepted definition from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs is that a migrant has lived outside their country of origin for at least a year.

Returnees

Returnees are displaced people who permanently return to their own homes after the root cause of their displacement has been resolved, and they can live in lasting peace. They are not yet integrated into their home country but no longer have refugee status.

A global issue

According to the UNHCR, about 117.3 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced at the end of 2023, an 8% increase from the end of 2022. “Behind these stark and rising numbers lie countless human tragedies. That suffering must galvanize the international community to act urgently to tackle the root causes of forced displacement.” - Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

How to celebrate World Refugee Day

Below are several practical ways to celebrate World Refugee Day:

• Donate to an international agency or national non-profit that supports refugees
• Use social media hashtags to raise awareness
• Learn more about refugees and forced migrations and the strength and courage of those forced to leave everything behind
• Read a biography by an author who has experienced the life of a refugee
• Watch a film or documentary about refugees and displacement
• Volunteer at a local agency that helps refugees
• Listen to music that celebrates the experiences of refugees

Other ways to support refugees

While celebrating World Refugee Day can be impactful, there are other ways to support refugees every day of the year in your own community, including but not limited to the following: 

• Help local refugee families by hosting them in your home: You may be able to find local organizations that can help you manage the additional costs of hosting refugees in your home.
• Use your skills to help local refugee families: You may have a unique skill that could support a person in need. For example, you can volunteer as an interpreter if you speak a foreign language. If you have training as a medical doctor or a nurse, you can volunteer to work in a clinic. 
• Shop in stores that employ refugees or hire refugees for your own business: Once accepted as refugees, people can legally work in the United States. Helping businesses that employ or hire refugees can give displaced people meaningful employment to support their families.
• Fundraise: Organize fundraising events in your community or donate to organizations that support local refugees.

Therapy can be an effective option for refugees

Find a non-judgmental therapist

The mental health implications of persecution and being forced to flee

Displaced people or refugees have an increased risk of developing mental health conditions due to many factors, including poor socioeconomic conditions, lack of social integration, and being forced to leave everything behind. These conditions can also exacerbate any current mental health problems. Common conditions experienced by this population include anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they tend to be at a higher risk of suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Text or call 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Support is available 24/7.

A significant challenge for refugees experiencing mental health problems may be a lack of access to effective mental health care. Many refugees may not have benefits like health insurance, and it can be challenging to get to appointments as they may not have reliable transportation. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, anyone can access professional mental health care via a smart device with internet access.  

Online therapy subscription plans may be more affordable than insurance, and many people can be matched with a provider in as little as 48 hours of signing up. In addition, research has found that online therapy is effective. For example, one 2023 study found that online mental health treatment significantly improved the quality of life of adult participants with major depressive disorder.