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A Resolution recognizing June 20, 2022 as World Refugee Day in Nashville and Davidson County.
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WHEREAS, World Refugee Day falls each year on June 20 and is dedicated to refugees around the globe. World Refugee Day was held globally for the first time on June 20, 2001, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It was originally known as Africa Refugee Day, before the United Nations General Assembly officially designated it as an international day in December 2000; and
WHEREAS, World Refugee Day shines a light on the rights, needs and dreams of refugees, helping to mobilize political will and resources so refugees can not only survive but also thrive. While it is important to protect and improve the lives of refugees every single day, international days like World Refugee Day help to focus global attention on the plight of those fleeing conflict or persecution. Many activities held on World Refugee Day create opportunities to support refugees; and
WHEREAS, currently, there are more than 80 million displaced people around the world, including over 20 million refugees under the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN's Refugee agency. Only a tiny percentage (often less than 1%) of those refugees who have fled their home countries are resettled in a third country like the United States. For many refugees, it can take decades to finally be resettled; and
WHEREAS, once referred by the UNHCR, a series of multi-agency vetting processes culminates in a refugee being assigned to a local resettlement agency; and
WHEREAS, in Nashville, there are 3 refugee resettlement agencies: Catholic Charities, the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), and Inspiritus. These agencies provide direct services to refugees through the implementation of numerous government programs, as well as through a spectrum of wrap-around services designed to support refugees on their path t...
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