Fast Facts

• World Refugee Day is an international day organised every year on 20 June by the United Nations. It is designed to celebrate and honour refugees from around the world. The day was first established on 20 June 2001, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
• Refugees are defined as people who move out of their country due to restriction or danger to their lives.
• Since World War II New Zealand has resettled over 35,000 refugees. The Government established a formal annual quota for the resettlement of refugees in 1987. In 2020 the annual quota was lifted from 1,000 to 1,500.
• Refugees are identified for resettlement by the UNHCR according to internationally accepted guidelines that take account of physical and legal protection needs, as well as family reunification. Immigration New Zealand is only able to consider the case of a refugee for resettlement under the refugee quota following a formal referral by UNHCR.
• Refugee Sunday is designated as 26 June in the Methodist calendar.