Thursday, 23 May 2013

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World Refugee Day

Through the eyes of the refugees

UNHCR has started publishing videos on the web “1 life – 1 story” where refugees tell their stories with their own words. UNHCR  has talked to refugees and other forcibly displaced people around the world about what forced them from their homes and how that experience has shaped their lives.
Here are their stories:  http://www.youtube.com/user/storytellingunhcr

 

UNHCR and Magnum photos join forces Europe

UNHCR has teamed up with the prestigious Magnum Photos to celebrate the lives of refugees and their impact on Europe over the past six decades, as part of its 60th anniversary activities,

The light show "60 Years, 60 Lives," is appearing in cities across Europe as the annual World Refugee Day (June 20) approaches. It also pays tribute to the humanitarian achievements in Europe over the past 60 years.

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Every link you need about refugees:

 Main UN websites on refugees:

    http://www.unhcr.org/do1thing/index.php

    http://www.unhcr.org/4df231cf6.html

    http://www.un.org/en/events/refugeeday/

    http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/refugees/

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Facts:

Refugees in numbers:

    • Around the world today there are 43.3 million forcibly displaced people. Of these, 27.1 million are internally displaced (IDP) and 15.6 million are refugees.
    • Afghanistan is the leading country of origin for refugees. 2.9 million Afghans live in 71 countries as refugees. Most of them live in Pakistan or Iran.
    • Four out of five refugees are settled in developing countries. 16 % of the refugees are settled in Europe.
    • Pakistan has takes in the highest number of refugees in the world: 1.7 million.
    • Colombia is the county in the word with the most internally displaced people: 3.3 million people.
    • African countries account for 40 % of all IDPs. Conflicts in the Democratic republic of Congo, Sudan and Somalia are crucial factors.


Definitions:

    • Refugee: According to the Geneva Refugee Convention of 1951 a refugee is a person who has fled from his or her country because of “well-founded fear of being persecuted”, often for reasons of race, religion, nationality or political opinion.
    • Asylum seeker: An asylum seeker is someone who says he or she is a refugee, but whose claim has not been evaluated by the authorities in the country where the person seeks asylum.
    • Migrant: Migrants choose to move for example to improve their future economic prospects. Since they are not forced to move to save their rights or protect their freedom, international law treats them differently.
    • IDP (Internally Displaced People): IDPs have not crossed international boarders, but have moved to find sanctuary within their own country. Even though they flee for similar reasons as refugees, such as armed conflict and human rights violations, they legally remain under the protection of their own government.