Jesuit Refugee Service

This year is the sixth anniversary of the United Nations designated World Refugee Day.  World Refugee Day is an opportunity for the world to honor the courage, resilience and strength of refugees. As global attention is focused on the plight of refugees and the causes of their exile, we at JRS are organizing a day of festivity and celebration. World Refugee Day for JRS is an important occasion in which we collectively acknowledge the determination, will to survive, and the many contributions refugee’s make to their host countries.

Refugee day is also an occasion to stand in solidarity with refugees around the globe and to speak out against the conflicts, persecution, and human rights abuse that force people from their homes.

The theme for this year’s World Refugee Day is “Home”

JRS in various countries and projects will commemorate or remember World Refugee Day in a number of ways.

In Bangkok:

On 18 June 2010
Detainees in Bangkok Immigration Detention Center will celebrate the World Refugee Day on Friday, 18 June 2010. The families who are detained separately in different wards (men wards are separated from women wards) will have an opportunity for a few hours to reunite. Simple extra food and snacks will be available to all detainees and their children.

On 20 June 2010
Refugees and parishioners are invited to join in the celebration of the Eucharist/Mass at the Xavier Hall Chapel, Bangkok at 9.00 AM. During Mass, we are privileged to have two refugees willing to share their stories of displacement and exile and the challenges of making Thailand their homes for now; demonstrating their courage and resilience and providing us with a glimpse into the hardship they face.
JRS Thailand and the Regional Office Asia Pacific will hold a public awareness exhibition at Xavier Hall. Information on the causes of displacement and the ‘refugee journey’ in Thailand will be displayed alongside updates on JRS projects in the region.
Also on display will be the traditional dress of several ethnic groups that JRS supports, including the Shan, Karenni, Mon, Karen and Burmese. Visitors will have the opportunity to support a number of livelihood projects by purchasing items produced by refugees participating in JRS projects.  The day will conclude with a shared lunch and some light heart fun and games within the welcoming sanctuary of Xavier Hall.

For more information:
Jesuit Refugee Service Asia Pacific
http://www.jrsap.org or www.jrs.or.th
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vt...