Review

World Refugee Day

June 20th is World Refugee Day.

Originally, June 20th was celebrated as African Refugee Day by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1975.

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Meanwhile, in 2000, the United Nations extended this day to 'World Refugee Day' to express solidarity with Africa, which has protected many refugees, and to encourage more countries and citizens around the world to pay attention to refugees. 'World Refugee Day' has been celebrated since 2001.

Who are refugees?

According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is “a person who, due to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or, due to such fear, does not wish to receive the protection of the country of his or her nationality.”

In other words, refugees refer to people who leave their hometown and escape to a foreign country or other region due to persecution not only due to war but also due to racial, religious, political, and ideological differences.

Representative refugees include Syrian refugees resulting from conflict. In 2011, armed conflict between Syrian government forces and rebels began due to the effects of the Middle East democracy protests. Many people were killed and injured in the civil war, and even today, refugees are fleeing to neighboring countries, creating the largest number of refugees in the world. Among the refugees, women and children are the most numerous, especially children who lost their parents in bombings right in front of their eyes and are living without hope.

What does education mean to refugees? “Basic rights for a better future”

For refugees and internally displaced people who find it difficult to afford food and shelter in the midst of conflict, education is considered a luxury. However, education is a fundamental right and an important part of helping people who have been driven from their homes regain hope and dignity. It is an important tool for standing back on your own and creating a better future.

In times of emergency, education takes a backseat, but ensuring children have access to basic education is paramount.

On this day, June 20th, why not think about the children living in refugee camps scattered around the world and struggling for just one day? If the countless children in refugee camps could receive a proper education, they would be able to live a new life.