In 2001, which marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a special United Nations General Assembly Resolution was adopted to declare June 20 as World Refugee Day. World Refugee Day is marked by a variety of events in over a hundred countries.

On this day we should all remember the plight of refugees around the world, but also to advocate for full inclusion of refugees in our communities. During the years of conflict in the former Yugoslavia, hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes in an attempt to avoid ethnic cleansing and other atrocities of war. Currently, those who fled live among us and as our neighbors, within the countries of the former Yugoslavia.

On World Refugee Day, we should remember the millions of refugees worldwide who live without material, social and legal protection.