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World Refugee Day 2024, Date, Theme, Importance

PWOnlyIAS June 18, 2024 04:30 1301 0

World Refugee Day 2024 will be observed globally on June 20th. Know the theme and importance of World Refugee Day 2024 here.

World Refugee Day 2024, Date, Theme, Importance

World Refugee Day is observed globally on June 20th of every year as a day to remember refugees who have been driven to flee from their own country. World Refugee Day 2024 emphasises showing support for refugees in the hopes of creating a welcoming global community. 

World Refugee Day 2024

World Refugee Day 2024 will be observed on June 20. The United Nations has declared World Refugee Day as a global celebration honouring refugees worldwide. The day honours the bravery and fortitude of those who have had to leave their nation of origin due to turmoil or persecution. 

In honour of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention with respect to the Status of Refugees, the world celebrated the first-ever World Refugee Day on June 20, 2001. Until the United Nations General Assembly formally declared it an international event in December 2000, it was referred to as Africa Refugee Day.

World Refugee Day Theme 2024

The World Refugee Day 2024 theme will be officially announced by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The World Refugee Day Theme 2024 and the World Refugee Day 2024 logo are important for UPSC aspirants.

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Importance of World Refugee Day 2024

World Refugee Day is marked to bring attention to the predicament of refugees who have fled their homes because of conflict, persecution, war, or other reasons related to the economy, among other things. More than ever, we must stand with refugees on World Refugee Day 2024 to honour their accomplishments and abilities while considering the difficulties they have faced. 

By standing together on World Refugee Day 2024, we can protect the rights of refugees to seek protection, increase support for their social and economic inclusion, and push for solutions to end their predicament.

Definition of Refugee

A person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; fears persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution.

These refugees have a right to international protection under the UN Refugee convention and its protocol. 

  • Asylum-seeker: An asylum seeker is someone who claims to be a refugee but whose claim hasn’t been evaluated. 
    • An asylum seeker will turn into a refugee if the claim is evaluated and justified. 

About UN Refugee Convention 1951

UNHCR World Refugee Day 2024 is a reminder of the famous UN Refugee Convention 1951. UPSC aspirants should know about the UN Refugee Convention 1951 which outlines a refugee’s rights such as freedom of religion and movement, the right to work, education and accessibility to travel documents.

The convention also honours the ‘Principle of Refoulement’ which states that refugees should not be returned (refouled) to a country where he/she fears persecution. 

It builds on Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries. 

UNHCR serves as the guardian of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol. 

Countries that have ratified the Refugee Convention are obliged to protect refugees that are on their territory, in accordance with its terms. 

Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1967

  • Under the 1951 Convention, mainly Europeans involved in events occurring before 1 January 1951 could apply for refugee status. 
  • The 1967 Protocol removed these geographical and temporal restrictions.
  • India has signed neither the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention nor its 1967 Protocol. 
  • As of 20 January 2020, there were 146 parties to the Convention, and 147 to the Protocol. 
  • Madagascar and Saint Kitts and Nevis are parties only to the Convention, while Cape Verde, the United States of America and Venezuela are parties only to the Protocol. 
  • However, India continues to host a large population of refugees. 
  • The Convention also sets out which people do not qualify as refugees. e.g War criminals.

Challenges with the Refugees

  • Social consequences of permitting refugees:
    • Refugees might create an identity crisis with the indigenous people. For example, the refugees from Bangladesh currently in Assam and Arunachal threaten to overtake the indigenous population of the region. 
  • Difficult to identify and deport them back to their country after a few years. 
    • For example, the illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Rohingya refugees entered through the North-East. But later they spread to all other states, like Haryana, Kerala, Telangana and UTs like Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, etc. Identifying them among more than a billion Indians is a great challenge. 
  • Economic consequence of permitting refugees
    • Increased financial responsibility of the state. 
    • Decreases wage level and replaces the native people. 
  • Political consequence of permitting refugees:
    • Issue of illegal Voting: The illegal migrants avail the benefits, and procure Illegal national identity cards such as voter id. By procuring that, they also vote in elections and influence the outcome. 
    • Issue of Terrorism: These refugees, since not accepted by governments, are vulnerable to join Pakistan based terror outfits for work and revenue. 

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Way Forward

  • Enactment of a National Asylum Law: This law should clearly define the criteria for recognizing asylum seekers and refugees and outline their rights and duties. 
    • It should also incorporate the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to a country where they may face persecution.
  • Establishment of a National Commission for Asylum: To ensure a fair and transparent process for handling asylum applications, a National Commission for Asylum should be constituted. 
    • This commission would be responsible for receiving and deciding on all asylum applications, providing an independent and impartial assessment of each case.
  • Collaboration with International Community: India should actively engage with the international community and collaborate with relevant organisations, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to seek guidance and support in managing refugee issues. 
  • Reviewing and Updating Existing Laws: Existing laws related to foreigners and immigration, such as the Foreigners Act, 1946, Citizenship Act, and Passports Act, should be reviewed and updated to align with international standards and the provisions of the National Asylum Law. 
  • Supreme Court Judgement: In 1996, the SC ruled that the state has to protect all human beings living in India, irrespective of nationality, since they enjoy the rights guaranteed by Articles 14, 20 and 21 of the Constitution to all, not just Indian citizens.

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World Refugee Day 2024 FAQs

World Refugee Day, observed on June 20th, is a global day to honour and raise awareness about the plight of refugees and displaced people worldwide.

World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2000 and was first observed on June 20, 2001.

It highlights the struggles and resilience of refugees, promotes understanding and empathy, and advocates for their rights and protection.

People can support refugees by donating to organisations that aid refugees, volunteering, raising awareness on social media, and advocating for policies that protect refugees.

The theme for World Refugee Day 2024 will be officially announced by UNHCR.
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