20th of June World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations in 2001, so this is the 7th year that a celebration exists to celebrate the courage of all those people who decide to leave their homes behind due to presecution or in times of war. Today is the day where one "must" remember those persons who are either refugees, asylum-seekers, returned refugees, internally displaced and/or stateless persons.

"Enshrined in Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the right "to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution." This principle recognizes that victims of human rights abuse must be able to leave their country freely and to seek refuge elsewhere. Governments frequently see refugees as a threat or a burden, refusing to respect this core principle of human rights and refugee protection" ( hrw.org)

As you sit in your chair and read this blog...

More than two million refugees from Iraq have fled to neighboring countries.
Thousands of people are waiting to get refugee status around the world.
More people are waiting in refugee camps.
All looking for a home against their will and to start a new life.

So before you close down the computer why not ...
DONATE.TAKE ACTION.THINK.REFLECT.HELP.RESEARCH.

Dont just attend genocide,holocust,war memorials, and remember what you saw, but try and figure out what is Happening NOW. Dont forget that the person sitting next to you could be a refugee himself.