One World, One Home: Refugee Day 2017
Posted on 20 June 2017
"I’ve met so many who have lost so much. But they never lose their dreams for their children or their desire to better our world. They ask for little in return – only our support in their time of greatest need."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Every 60 seconds, 24 people are forced to leave everything behind to escape war, persecution, or the threat of violence. Geopolitical instability, failed peace talks, and conflicts around the globe have driven millions out of their countries in the hope of finding safety and opportunity elsewhere.
This week, the United Nation’s Refugee Agency published their annual Global Trends report. The report, which tracks forced displacement worldwide, indicates that the conditions that contribute to the refugee crises are worsening. 65.6 million people were displaced by the end of 2016, marking the highest total since the end of the Second World War.
These findings coincide with a resurgence of xenophobia and an increasing reluctance from many governments to accept refugees. Anti-immigrant sentiment has fueled widespread animosity and distrust, resulting in both overt violence and more subtle, insidious forms of discrimination.
Millions of refugees seeking a safe haven are denied, turned away when the need for acceptance is most dire. Even those who are granted asylum commonly encounter difficulties in securing employment opportunities, facing discrimination and hostility daily.
“The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what’s being tested today, and it’s this spirit of unity that badly needs to prevail.”
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Same Sky believes that all people deserve to live without fear of persecution or discrimination. We foster a spirit of unity with survivors of conflict, working on the ground to create tangible opportunities for success that give women likely to be overlooked the key to stability and security.
Today, every voice that calls for change has the power to ring further, louder, and with greater impact for those who go unheard. In response to aggression, ignorance, and injustice, our founding principle resonates in our commitment to equality for all people: We are all living under the same sky.
Extend a helping hand to those in need and express your support for World Refugee Day by signing the UN #WithRefugees petition.