World Refugee Day 2023: On World Refugee Day, we honour the courage and hopes of the millions of people forced to flee war, violence, and persecution. Including refugees in the communities where they have found safety is the most effective way to help them restart their lives and contribute to the countries hosting them. In real terms, this means ensuring that refugees can apply for jobs, enroll in schools, and access services like housing and health care. It also means fostering a sense of belonging and welcome that gives hope to refugees uprooted from their homes. At UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, we know that inclusion is the best way to support refugees in exile, to prepare them so they can help rebuild their countries when conditions allow them to return, or to thrive if they are resettled to another country. But host countries cannot do it on their own. The rest of the international community must step up and provide the financial resources to enable such progressive policies. We have seen enormous progress in this area over the past years, with outstanding donor generosity, innovative approaches to financing, and huge investments by the World Bank, regional development banks, and other international financial institutions. But clearly, more must be done. It is time for us all to commit to including refugees in our communities at all levels – in our schools, workplaces, health-care systems, and beyond, so that refugees can regain hope away from home.

Youth with Refugees Art Contest: What if your creativity had the power to spread hope? The theme of the 2023 art contest is “Hope away from home”. UNHCR is calling on young people globally to submit a drawing that illustrates the power of including refugees. This year, the best designs will be turned into t-shirts by our partner UNIQLO and sold to support displaced people globally! Find more details here: https://www.unhcr.org/youth-refugees-art-contest

UNHCR Iran marked World Refugee Day with a series of events celebrating refugees’ resilience and courage and the country’s commendable inclusive policies towards refugees. With over 3.4 million refugees and refugee-like populations, Iran has become the second-largest refugee-hosting country globally this year. Throughout Iran, a range of events were organized to commemorate this year’s World Refugee Day, under the theme “Hope Away from Home.” These events emphasized the importance of solutions, inclusion, and compassion towards those forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. UNHCR Representative a.i., Ms. Inna Gladkova, in her Refugee Day message, paid tribute to the courage and remarkable resilience of refugees and commended Iran for its inclusive refugee policies, particularly in the sectors of education and health.