World Refugee Day 2025: Date, theme, history, significance — all you need to know
World Refugee Day 2025 Date, History, and Theme: World Refugee Day is a global observance established by the United Nations, dedicated to honouring the strength and resilience of refugees worldwide.
This day also emphasises the importance of advocating for their rights. According to the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, refugees are 'individuals who fled their home and country due to 'a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion'.
This day was first observed globally on 20 June 2001, to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees.
Formerly known as Africa Refugee Day, it was changed to this day when the United Nations General Assembly declared it an international day in December 2000.
World Refugee Day falls on Friday, 20 June 2025, this year. It will focus on the theme 'Solidarity with Refugees,' a call for action to move beyond mere words and take meaningful actions to support them.
According to the UN, every minute, 20 people leave everything to flee conflict, persecution, or terror, and World Refugee Day serves as an opportunity to build empathy and understanding for their predicament, as well as to recognise their resilience in reconstructing their lives.
Together, we can fight for their right to safety, get support for their economic and social inclusion, and lobby for solutions to their problems.
Every person has the right to seek safety.
💙 Whoever they are.
💙 Wherever they come from.
💙 Whenever they are forced to flee.
This #WorldRefugeeDay — and every day — we stand with all refugees, everywhere. pic.twitter.com/vr3ar1SvnV
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) June 17, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
Govt denies entry to UN aviation investigator in Air India crash probe
India would not allow a UN investigator to join a probe of a crashed Air India jet that some safety experts had criticised for delays in analysis of crucial black box data, two senior sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Earlier this week, the United Nations aviation agency took the unusual step of offering India one of its investigators to provide assistance following the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash killing 260 people in Ahmedabad on June 12. Previously, the International Civil Aviation Organization has deployed investigators to help with certain probes, such as the downing of a Malaysian plane in 2014 and a Ukrainian jetliner in 2020, but those times the agency had been asked for assistance. ICAO had asked for the investigator who was in India to be given observer status, but Indian authorities refused the offer, the sources said. The news was first reported on Thursday by the Indian news channel Times Now. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe into the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade, did not return a request for comment. ICAO was not immediately available for comment. India's civil aviation ministry said on Thursday that investigators downloaded flight recorder data around two weeks after the crash. Previously, safety experts had questioned a lack of information about the probe, including the status of the combined black box unit recovered on June 13, along with a second set that was found on June 16. Questions were also raised on whether the recorders would be read in India or in the US since the National Transportation Safety Board is participating in the investigation. The Indian government held only one press conference on the incident, and no questions were taken. Under international rules known throughout the industry by their legal name "Annex 13," the decision of where to read flight recorders should be made immediately in case the evidence obtained could avert future tragedies. Earlier this week, an Indian aviation ministry official who declined to be named said the department has been "following all the ICAO protocols." The official added that media representatives have made updates on important events. Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, with a preliminary report expected about 30 days after the accident. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
India denies entry to UN aviation investigator in Air India crash probe, say sources
By Aditya Kalra, Allison Lampert and David Shepardson India denies entry to UN aviation investigator in Air India crash probe, say sources June 25 - India would not allow a UN investigator to join a probe of a crashed Air India jet that some safety experts had criticized for delays in analysis of crucial black box data, two senior sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Earlier this week, the United Nations aviation agency took the unusual step of offering India one of its investigators to provide assistance following the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash killing 260 people in Ahmedabad on June 12. Previously, the International Civil Aviation Organization has deployed investigators to help with certain probes, such as the downing of a Malaysian plane in 2014 and a Ukrainian jetliner in 2020, but those times the agency had been asked for assistance. ICAO had asked for the investigator who was in India to be given observer status, but Indian authorities refused the offer, the sources said. The news was first reported on Thursday by the Indian news channel Times Now. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau , which is leading the probe into the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade, did not return a request for comment. ICAO was not immediately available for comment. India's civil aviation ministry said on Thursday that investigators downloaded flight recorder data around two weeks after the crash. Previously, safety experts had questioned a lack of information about the probe, including the status of the combined black box unit recovered on June 13, along with a second set that was found on June 16. Questions were also raised on whether the recorders would be read in India or in the U.S. since the National Transportation Safety Board is participating in the investigation. The Indian government held only one press conference on the incident, and no questions were taken. Under international rules known throughout the industry by their legal name "Annex 13," the decision of where to read flight recorders should be made immediately in case the evidence obtained could avert future tragedies. Earlier this week, an Indian aviation ministry official who declined to be named said the department has been "following all the ICAO protocols." The official added that media representatives have made updates on important events. Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, with a preliminary report expected about 30 days after the accident. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a day ago
- First Post
History Today: How the United Nations was formed 80 years ago
The United Nations Charter was signed on June 26, 1945, by nearly 50 nations in California. Signed at the historic Veterans' War Memorial Building in San Francisco, it established major organs of the UN, including the General Assembly, Security Council and International Court of Justice, among others. On this day in 1948, the Berlin Airlift, considered to be the biggest airlift during the Cold War years, took place in West Berlin read more President Harry S. Truman and the entire American delegation look on as Sen. Tom Connally signs the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, June 26, 1945. File image/AP The United Nations is the biggest intergovernmental organisation today that helps to maintain peace, foster cooperation and address global challenges across the world. But, following the end of World War II, several nations realised the need for an organisation to maintain peace within the world. So, on June 26, 1945, 50 nations came together to sign the United Nations Charter, often considered to be the founding treaty of the United Nations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. One of the biggest airlifts during the Cold War - the Berlin Airlift - began on this day in 1948 after the Soviet Union imposed a complete land, rail and water blockade on all access to West Berlin. In 1997, the first book in the Harry Potter series namely Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone debuted in the United Kingdom. Here is all that happened on this day. The United Nations Charter was signed The United Nations Charter was signed at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, California, on June 26, 1945. The signing came in the aftermath of World War II, with the goal of preventing future global conflicts and fostering international cooperation. The conference, officially known as the United Nations Conference on International Organization, began on April 25, that brought together delegates who drafted and debated the founding principles of a new world body that would replace the ineffective League of Nations. The Charter was based on proposals put forward by China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in 1944. President Harry Truman (left) signs the UN charter to complete its ratification, with Secretary of State James Byrnes watching. File image/AP Signed at the historic Veterans' War Memorial Building in San Francisco, the UN Charter consists of a preamble and 111 articles grouped into chapters. It outlines the purposes of the UN which are to maintain international peace and security, promote social progress and better standards of life, uphold human rights and foster international cooperation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Charter also established major organs of the UN, including the General Assembly, Security Council, International Court of Justice, Economic and Social Council, and the Secretariat. A major innovation was the Security Council's power to take binding action to address threats to peace. Now, it is observed as the United Nations Day. The Berlin Airlift began One of the biggest humanitarian and logistical operations during the Cold War began on this day in 1948 when the United States began airlifting people from West Berlin following the Soviet Union's blockade. After World War II , Germany had been divided into four occupation zones, controlled by the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union. Berlin, although located within the Soviet-controlled zone, was similarly divided among the four powers. Tensions rapidly escalated when the Western Allies introduced a new currency, the Deutschmark, into West Berlin without Soviet approval. In retaliation, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin ordered the blockade, intending to starve West Berlin into submission and force the Western powers to abandon the city. With limited ground forces in West Berlin , the Allies had a stark choice - abandon West Berlin or attempt to supply it by air. They chose the latter, launching 'Operation Vittles' (US) and 'Operation Plainfare' (UK). The first flights, primarily C-47s, delivered essential supplies like food, medicine and coal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The initial days were challenging, but the airlift quickly ramped up. Pilots flew round-the-clock, landing planes at Tempelhof, Gatow and the newly constructed Tegel Airport, sometimes as frequently as every 30 to 45 seconds. Despite Soviet harassment attempts and the harsh winter conditions, the Allies demonstrated unwavering resolve. The Berlin Airlift lasted for 11 months, successfully supplying over two million West Berliners with more than 2.3 million tons of cargo. The Soviets finally lifted the blockade on May 12, 1949, acknowledging its failure. First Harry Potter book released The literary world changed forever with the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone , the first book in JK Rowling's now-legendary Harry Potter series, on June 26, 1997. The story follows Harry Potter, an orphaned boy who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard. Taken from a life of neglect with his cruel relatives, the Dursleys, Harry is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he finds friendship, courage, and the first hints of the dark past that connects him to the sinister Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone debuted in the United Kingdom. File image/Reuters Rowling, a struggling single mother at the time, wrote much of the book in cafes around Edinburgh, famously penning early drafts on napkins. Her manuscript was rejected by a dozen publishers before Bloomsbury took a chance on it, largely thanks to the enthusiastic response of the chairman's young daughter, who read the first chapter and demanded more. The book quickly garnered critical acclaim for its imaginative storytelling, rich characters and themes of friendship, courage and the timeless battle between good and evil. It laid the foundation for an epic seven-book series that would define a generation's childhood and inspire a massive media franchise, including blockbuster films, theme parks and spin-off works. The book was later released in the United States under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in September 1998. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This Day, That Year In 1979, heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali announced his retirement from boxing. Elvis Presley performed in public for the last time on this day in 1977. On this day in 1963, During the Cold War, US President John F Kennedy delivered his famous Ich bin ein Berliner speech in West Berlin.
