World Refugee Day: Honoring Strength, Courage, and Resilience

20 – 19 June 2025

World Refugee Day, observed annually on 20 June, honors the resilience, strength, and courage of refugees who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2001 (A/RES/55/76), the day also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which remains a cornerstone in protecting refugee rights worldwide.

Building Empathy and Understanding

World Refugee Day offers a critical opportunity to:

  • Raise awareness of the challenges faced by refugees, including displacement, insecurity, and limited access to basic services.
  • Celebrate resilience, recognizing the efforts of refugees to rebuild their lives and contribute to their host communities.
  • Foster public support, encouraging solidarity and advocacy for inclusive policies and solutions that uphold refugee rights and dignity.

Refugees and WCAH: A Call to Action

Refugees, especially women, children, and adolescents, face significant health challenges in displacement settings, including limited access to essential healthcare, increased risk of malnutrition, and heightened vulnerability to gender-based violence. At PMNCH, we emphasize that addressing these challenges is integral to advancing Women, Children, and Adolescents’ Health (WCAH).

Aligned with the WHA77 resolution on reducing maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity, we call for:

  1. Equitable healthcare access: Prioritize health services for refugee women and children, ensuring safe childbirth, immunizations, and nutrition support.
  2. Protection of vulnerable groups: Strengthen safeguards against gender-based violence and exploitation, providing psychosocial support and rehabilitation.
  3. Investments in resilience: Enhance healthcare infrastructure in displacement settings to promote long-term health and well-being.