The document discusses issues related to refugees on World Refugee Day 2007. It notes that according to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is someone who is outside their country of nationality due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on attributes such as religion or political opinions. The document also highlights that over 27 million children affected by armed conflicts lack access to formal education, and refugee women and girls in particular face barriers to secondary education. It stresses the mental and physical health challenges refugees face, such as disability, disease, and trauma.

1. World Refugee Day 2007World Refugee Day 2007
S.ArulananthamS.Arulanantham
LibrarianLibrarian
University of JaffnaUniversity of Jaffna

2. Library
University of Jaffna
Library
University of Jaffna
Source: http://ashleycecil.com/paintings/Refugee%20Day%202007.jpg
World Refugees Day

3. According to the 1951 Refugee
Convention, a refugee is a person
who is outside his /her country of
nationality or habitual residence ;
has a well-founded fear of
persecution because of his/her
nationality, religion membership
of a particular social group or
political opinion; and is unable or
unwilling to avail herself/himself
of the protection of that country
or to return there, for fear of
persecution. (UNHCR, 1951 Refugee
Convention)
Who is a refugee?
Source: World Prout Assembly

4. IANSA, OXFAM, and Safer-World, Africa's missing billions: International arms flow and cost of conflict, (IANSA: London, 2007) at 38.

6. Who suffer most doing war and conflicts?

7. Did you know…
MSF. Conflict in Eastern DRC. 2008 [cited 2009 January 14]; Available from:
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/allcontent.cfm?id=167&ref=tag-sidebar.
The war in DR Congo (Africa’s
World War) has claimed over 5.4
million lives mainly fueled by blood
diamonds and coltan (use in cell
phones)? For example, in the
province of North Kivu, sexual
violence has become the weapon
of war as hundreds of women and
girls are sexually violated on a
regular basis.
Source: Allison Kilkenny, Worldpress
Democratic Republic of Congo

8. IS EDUCATION TRULY FOR ALL?
Article 26 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
states: [e]veryone [including
refugees] has the right to
education. Education shall be free
[even during violent conflict], at
least in the elementary and
fundamental stages. Elementary
education shall be compulsory [for
all refugee children].
Article 26 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
states: [e]veryone [including
refugees] has the right to
education. Education shall be free
[even during violent conflict], at
least in the elementary and
fundamental stages. Elementary
education shall be compulsory [for
all refugee children].
Source: UNESCO, Education for All

9. Women Refugee Commission, Global survey on education in emergencies. (Women
Refugee Commission : New York., 2004 at 156.
Global Survey on Education in
Emergencies conducted on ten
conflict areas showed that 27
million children and youth
affected by armed conflicts
were found not to have access
to formal education. Only 6 per
cent of all refugee students
were enrolled in secondary
education with even fewer
opportunities available to
internally displaced youth.
Overall, adolescent females
have the least access to formal
education.
Source: The Guardian, UK
BUSH SCHOOL OF REFUGEES

10. DOES HEALTH EXIST FOR ALL?
Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights states that, “[e]veryone [including
refugees] has the right to a standard of living
adequate for the health and
well-being of himself and his family,…
motherhood and childhood [of refugees] are
entitled to special care and assistance.

11. Major health concerns of refugees
•Disability due to intentional
decapitation and landmines;
•Unwanted pregnancies and
complicated child birth;
•High prevalence of preventable
disease e.g., measles, malaria,
cholera, and dysentery;
•Mental illness and trauma resulting
from rape and torture;
•Incurable sexually transmitted
diseases (STD) such as HIV/AIDS;
•Socio-cultural problems e.g., forced
marriages, prostitution, enslavement
and trafficking.
Source: BBC, UK
Sri Lankan Refugees

12. Did you know…
Traditional humanitarian
emergencies responses
(food, shelter, physical
health) usually lack
strategic plans to provide
long-term [mental]
health and education for
refugees.
Source: The Guardian, UK
Displacing Refugees of Sri Lanka

13. “While every refugee's story is different
and their anguish personal, they all share
A common thread of uncommon courage – the
courage not only to survive, but
To persevere and rebuild their shattered
Lives.” Antonio Guterres, UNHCR High Commissioner, World Refugee Day, 2005

14. in Bosnia andin Bosnia and
HerzegovinaHerzegovina

16. 19 June 2007: Mr. James Lynch, UNHCR Representative19 June 2007: Mr. James Lynch, UNHCR Representative
and Mr. Safet Halilovic, Minister for Human Rights andand Mr. Safet Halilovic, Minister for Human Rights and
Refugees held a joint Press Conference in SarajevoRefugees held a joint Press Conference in Sarajevo