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 refugees, because no one is safe until everyone is safe. On World Refugee Day 2021, the UNHCR stresses the need to ensure that people forced to flee have access to vaccines, care, medicine and psychological support, like everyone else; and,
WHEREAS, on World Refugee Day 2021, the UNHCR is calling for the creation of scholarships and education opportunities for displaced youth, as well as greater access to digital education for refugee students; and,
WHEREAS, on World Refugee Day 2021, the UNHCR is calling for greater support to refugee sport programs and the Refugee Olympic and Paralympic Teams that will compete in the Tokyo games; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison asserts that all refugees should be treated with dignity, care and respect; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison reaffirms its status as a “Welcoming City” for immigrants and newcomers from all over the world, as established by RES-14-00232, adopted in April 2014;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Madison recognize and celebrate June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day.
Sources:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/refugee-day
https://www.unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/world-refugee-day/
https://www.unhcr.org/609553414/world-refugee-day-2021-toolkit-pdf
https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/world-refugee-day.html
https://www.un.org/en/observances/refugee-day
https://www.unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/usa/
https://www.wiscontext.org/refugee-resettlement-wisconsin-numbers