New York, NY 16 Jun 2005 - On Monday, June 20, the IRC celebrates World Refugee Day, established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as an annual salute to the indomitable spirit and courage of the world's refugees.
IRC offices are marking the occasion with a variety of events on June 20 or later in the month. Here are some highlights:
In Boston, a screening of the documentary "The Letter" will be followed by a short discussion with the filmmaker Ziad Hamzeh. The film won Best Documentary at the 2004 Boston International Film Festival.
A multimedia exhibition in New York will feature refugees from Burundi, Eritrea, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine and Liberia. Children and teens from the IRC’s New York youth program will perform an original short theater piece.
The IRC's Phoenix staff, local refugee resettlement agencies, and refugees will come together at the Arizona State Capitol for a celebration featuring traditional music, food and clothing from Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In Thailand, refugees and IRC, UNHCR and other humanitarian aid staff will take part in festivities that include a friendship soccer match, foot races for children, rice sack races for adults, and an exhibition featuring artwork, essays, and bamboo crafts.
On June 21 IRC-UK in London will host a panel discussion and audience debate on "A World Apart? Refugees, the media and the search for a balanced view." On June 28, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Richard Holbrooke will speak on “The US, the UN and the World.”
The celebration in Baltimore on June 26 will feature performances by an African dance and drumming troupe, a Russian folk dance ensemble, a Moldavian singer-songwriter, and refugees settled by the IRC in Baltimore.
In addition, an August 6 celebration in Dallas will honor refugees with entertainment and an international market.
