City of Madison - File #: 66188

• File #: 66188
• Version: 1
• Name: Recognizing June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 6/28/2021
• In control: Council Office
• On agenda: 7/6/2021
• Final action: 7/6/2021
• Enactment date: 7/12/2021
• Enactment #: RES-21-00454
• Title: Recognizing June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day
• Sponsors: Syed Abbas, Satya V. Rhodes-Conway, Christian A. Albouras, Brian Benford, Juliana R. Bennett, Sheri Carter, Nikki Conklin, Jael Currie, Tag Evers, Yannette Figueroa Cole, Grant Foster, Keith Furman, Gary Halverson, Barbara Harrington-McKinney, Patrick W. Heck, Lindsay Lemmer, Arvina Martin, Charles Myadze, Michael E. Verveer, Regina M. Vidaver, Nasra Wehelie

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/6/2021	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Adopt Under Suspension of Rules 2.04, 2.05, 2.24, and 2.25	Pass
6/28/2021	1	Council Office	RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT UNDER SUSPENSION OF RULES 2.04, 2.05, 2.24, & 2.25 - MISC. ITEMS

Fiscal Note
[Enter Fiscal Note Here]
Title
Recognizing June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day
Body

WHEREAS, the United States has a long history of offering refuge to those fleeing from persecution; and,

WHEREAS, the United States has welcomed more than three million refugees from all over the world into all 50 US states since 1975; and,

WHEREAS, 9,600 refugees resettled to the United States in 2020; and,

WHEREAS, between 2002 and 2016, 13,671 refugees resettled in Wisconsin, including 781 refugees to Madison, from 36 countries; and,

WHEREAS, between October 2018 and September 2019, 599 refugees arrived in Wisconsin, including 61 to Dane County, from countries including Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Somalia, Syria, and Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, current and past generations of refugees and immigrants have helped build Madison and make it the great city that it is, bringing economic development, vibrancy and cultural diversity; and,

WHEREAS, World Refugee Day was established in 2001 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention; and,

WHEREAS, 2021 is the 70th anniversary of the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which establishes global rights and protections for refugees, including:

· The right not to be expelled, except under certain, strictly defined conditions
· The right not to be punished for illegal entry into the territory of a contracting State
· The right to work
· The right to housing
· The right to education
· The right to public relief and assistance
· The right to freedom of religion;
· The right to access the courts;
· The right to freedom of movement within the territory;
· The right to be issued identity and travel documents; and,

WHEREAS, the theme of the 2021 World Refugee Day is Together We Heal, Learn, and Shine; and,

WHEREAS, the world can’t overcome COVID-19 if it overlooks refuge...