Media Advisory - Canadians help raise awareness of the plight of 51.2 million individuals forcibly displaced on 20 June 2014, World Refugee Day

OTTAWA, June 19, 2014 /CNW/ - Events are being held across Canada to mark World Refugee Day on 20 June 2014. On this occasion, Canadians are invited to bring attention to the plight of the world's refugees by sharing refugee stories.

The 2014 World Refugee campaign aims to remind the public of the strength and courage of refugees by inviting everyone to share refugee stories and tell us if they have one of their own. Through these individual testimonials, we can highlight the universal emotions each of us would share if faced with the prospect of losing everything, starting from scratch, or safeguarding our family from violence. 

Members of the media are invited to support the campaign and attend World Refugee Day events in their respective communities. A full list of events planned in different communities across Canada is available at http://www.unhcr.ca/wrd/events-canada.htm

Highlights of events organized in collaboration with UNHCR:

Toronto, Ontario 

Event: Public event at Daniels Spectrum Artscape Lounge and Aki Studio, 585 Dundas Street East
Date: 20 June 2014
Time: 4:00 pm – 9:30pm

Additional Events in Toronto:

Citizenship Ceremony in Mississauga
Launch of the Ready Tours in Toronto
Proclamation & UNHCR-COSTI Refugees and Human Rights Child and Youth Poetry Contest
Awards Ceremony Flag
Raising at City Hall (18-19 June)

www.worldrefugeedayto.ca

For further information in Toronto:
Rana Khan, UNHCR Legal Officer in Toronto
Tel: [phone]

Ottawa, Ontario

Event: Public Event at Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave West
Date: 20 June 2014
Time: 9:00 am - 2:00pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/1388035171438610/

For further information in Ottawa:
Gisèle Nyembwe, UNHCR Public Information Associate
Tel:  [phone]

Montreal, Quebec 

Event: Public event in the Olympic Park, Esplanade Financière Sun Life, 4141, Pierre-De Coubertin Ave.
Date: 21 June 2014
Time: 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm

https://www.facebook.com/JMR2014MTL

For further information in Montreal:
Denise Otis, UNHCR Legal Officer in Montreal
Tel:  [phone]

About UNHCR
UNHCR is mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people. In more than six decades, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives.

June 20 is World Refugee Day. The 2014 campaign aims to remind the public of the strength and courage of refugees by inviting everyone to share refugee stories and tell us if they have one of their own. The campaign features a number of media products including a Public Service Announcement by Canadian artist Chantal Kreviazuk, a new online webpage where refugees have shared their own stories, and related publicity materials. UNHCR is inviting media organizations to also engage and support the campaign via their news and blog sites. http://stories.unhcr.org/ca

SOURCE: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

For further information in Ottawa: Gisèle Nyembwe, Public Information Associate, UNHCR CanadaTel: [phone] or 613-232-0909, extension 225