OXHRF Refugee week events

(c) UNHCR

Basma El Doukhi (DEP 2019-20) reports on World Refugee Day and Refugee Week:

UNHCR’s annual Global Trends report for 2020 showed that forced displacement is now affecting more than one per cent of humanity – 1 in every 97 people – and with fewer and fewer of those who flee being able to return home. The report, which was published two days ahead of 20 June World Refugee Day, shows that an unprecedented 79.5 million were displaced as of the end of 2019.

 

“We are witnessing a changed reality in that forced displacement nowadays is not only vastly more widespread but is simply no longer a short-term and temporary phenomenon,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “People cannot be expected to live in a state of upheaval for years on end, without a chance of going home, nor a hope of building a future where they are. We need a fundamentally new and more accepting attitude towards all who flee, coupled with a much more determined drive to unlock conflicts that go on for years and that are at the root of such immense suffering.”

 

UNHCR’s Global Trends report shows that of the 79.5 million who were displaced at the end of last year, 45.7 million were people who had fled to other areas of their own countries. The rest were people displaced elsewhere, 4.2 million of them being people awaiting the outcome of asylum requests, while 29.6 million were refugees and others forcibly displaced outside their country. One hundred million people at least were forced to flee their homes in the past decade, seeking refuge either in or outside their countries. That’s more people fleeing than the entire population of Egypt, the world’s 14th most populous country.

World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees. Founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20 June, Refugee Week is also a growing global movement.

Through a programme of arts, cultural and educational events alongside media and creative campaigns, Refugee Week brings about positive encounters between communities, helping them to connect and learn from each other, and promoting a culture of welcome.

This year UK Refugee Week (15-21 June) had the theme ‘Imagine.’ Oxford Human Rights Festival, in collaboration with Oxford City of Sanctuary held two main online events to mark the week, inspired by the theme of  ‘Imagine’ and the global theme ‘Every action counts.’ The two events were supported and featured by the Oxford City Council.

The first event was on Tuesday 16 June, under the title of “The personal journey of a young female stateless refugee”. Basma El Doukhi shared her personal journey as a young female refugee, who has made her way to the UK to study and live after winning a prestigious Chevening scholarship in a conversation led by Professor Cathrine Brun, director of CENDEP, and followed by a Q&A.

Basma reflected on her personal and professional life and gave an insight into her work in supporting refugees and how her experience changed her perspectives. She accompanied us through her story of resilience and solidarity and reflected on her recent volunteering journey in Oxford with the NHS to support the COVID-19 response efforts. Sixty-nine people joined the webinar from all over the world.

The second event was on Friday 19 June, a panel discussion that explored the stories of refugees and asylum seekers and celebrated Oxford’s achievements in welcoming diversity under the title of ‘Step in.... it’s not a typical day! Narratives of Hope, Solidarity and resilience.’

The discussion was guided by Basma El Doukhi, with panel members, Oxford Lord Mayor Craig Simmons, Chaker Khazal, founder of Candle of Hope, Lucy Nichol from Refugee Resource in Oxford (DEP 2017-19) and Razan Al Sous, founder of Squeaky Cheese/Yorkshire Dama Cheese. The panellists discussed and shared their experiences on how creative and interconnected practices, ideas, projects, initiatives, and stories positively contribute and enhance the way refugees tell their stories and how they are perceived by the western audiences especially in the UK and Oxford. In addition to discussing the role of individuals, they also considered how community organizations focusing on development and humanitarian aid can share, promote and enhance refugees’ and asylum seekers’ perceptions and stories and change the narratives through the lens of resilience. 

Message from Basma to you all:

 

“Thanks so much from the bottom of my heart for joining us. Each one of us has a role to support, seek knowledge, and contribute positively to shift the narratives about refugees and other marginalized groups. Each one has a role to create a better world for everyone and to create a positive change.”

 

The Oxford Human Rights Festival and Basma El Doukhi would like to thank Oxford City of Sanctuary, Oxford city of Council, Elizabeth A Laskar, Cathrine Brun, CENDEP, the panel members and all the attendees from all around the world for their support for these two events this year.

 

We hope to see you at our other events later this year - do join our mailing list.  Like our FB and Twitter @OxHRF.