World Refugee Day - June 20, 2006
Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive
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| Source: Johns Hopkins University |
As an expression of solidarity with Africa, which hosts the most refugees and has traditionally shown them great generosity, the United Nations unanimously adopted in 2000 a special resolution (UN General Assembly Resolution [PDF, 92KB]) designating June 20 (originally Africa Refugee Day) as World Refugee Day. More than 100 countries now commemorate World Refugee Day annually with a variety of events and celebrations.
To draw the public’s attention to the millions of refugees worldwide, the theme of World Refugee Day 2006 is “Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive.” World Refugee Day 2006 Leaflet [PDF, 906KB]
There are an estimated 14 million refugee and 23 million displaced populations worldwide. Though the number varies in different settings, almost 80 percent of these populations tend to be women and children, with an estimated 25 percent women of reproductive age.
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| Source: Johns Hopkins University |
Poor reproductive health services can lead to high infant and maternal mortality in conflict-affected settings. Without access to reproductive health services, women face unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, complicated births, and exposure to sexual violence and untreated HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Addressing the reproductive health of refugees requires effective service delivery for maternal health, access to family planning, prevention of gender-based violence and transmission of HIV/STIs, and treatment for those women who are victims of violence or become infected with HIV or other STIs. There is also a special focus on adolescents, who tend to be the most vulnerable of this already vulnerable group. Through significant coordination among international donor and relief organizations, there is increased recognition that dedicating attention and resources toward providing reproductive health services to conflict- and other emergency-affected populations is fundamental to improving the overall health status of refugees and displaced populations.
USAID’s Refugee Reproductive Health Working Group serves as the focal point within the Office of Population and Reproductive Health (PRH) for issues associated with the reproductive health concerns of refugees and other displaced populations. The Working Group coordinates PRH efforts to answer critical research questions, fill in key technical gaps, and provide reproductive health commodities. In addition, the Working Group provides a regular forum for coordination of reproductive health activities among PRH; the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance; the State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration; and other governmental and nongovernmental entities addressing the reproductive health needs of these populations.
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