Each year on 20 June, the world marks World Refugee Day, a day to honour the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes.
Refugees are teachers, parents, farmers and students. People who, often overnight, have had to leave behind everything familiar to seek safety from war, violence, disaster or persecution.
This day is a global moment to stop and reflect. To stand with displaced people. And to ask: what kind of world do we want to be part of?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what World Refugee Day is all about, why it matters in 2025, and how you can be part of the movement for justice and safety for all.
What is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day is an international day of recognition led by the United Nations that honours refugees around the world — people who have been forced to flee conflict, persecution or crisis.
It’s a day to acknowledge their resilience, to recognise their rights, and to affirm that seeking safety is a human right, no matter where you’re from or how far you’ve travelled.
World Refugee Day also shines a light on the barriers that still exist. Barriers like closed borders, failing systems, and support that too often falls short. But more than anything, it’s about hope. It’s about reminding the world that refugees are not defined by what they’ve lost, but by the lives they’re rebuilding.
When is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day is held every year on 20 June. It’s marked globally by schools, community groups, places of worship, refugee-led organisations and international agencies alike.
While the day is led by the United Nations, the spirit of it belongs to everyone. It’s a chance for people everywhere to walk alongside those forced to flee, and to recognise that safety should never be out of reach.
Why do we celebrate World Refugee Day?
We celebrate World Refugee Day to honour the resilience, strength and humanity of people who have been forced to leave their homes. We recognise their rights and affirm that seeking safety is not a crime, but a basic human right.
We celebrate to shine a light on injustice. To raise the voices of displaced people. And to challenge the systems and attitudes that keep them in danger, in limbo, or locked out.
But most of all, we celebrate because there is more to refugees than their stories of loss and displacement. They are community leaders, carers, creators and change-makers. People with rich lives and futures. World Refugee Day is a moment to see them fully, and publicly stand with them.
The global picture today
As of early 2025, more than 117 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide. That includes refugees, asylum seekers, and people displaced within their own countries due to conflict, disaster or persecution.
Behind every number is a person who has had to leave home to survive. These are families navigating uncertainty, children out of school, and entire communities living without basic rights or recognition.
World Refugee Day is a reminder to see the people behind the statistics and to ensure that global systems protect, not punish, those who leave their homes to seek safety.
How is World Refugee Day celebrated?
World Refugee Day is marked in all kinds of ways by governments, schools, communities and people who’ve experienced displacement themselves.
Some events are large and public: panel discussions, film screenings, art exhibitions, and concerts led by refugee artists. Others are quieter: classroom lessons, community meals, or simple acts of storytelling.
Refugee-led organisations often host events that centre lived experience and culture. These are moments to listen, to hear directly from people who know what it means to leave everything behind and to begin again.
You don’t need a big platform to take part. You can mark the day by learning more, sharing someone’s story, starting a conversation, or supporting an organisation that stands with displaced people year-round.
History of World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day was first held in 2001, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, a cornerstone of international law that defines the rights of refugees and the obligations of nations to protect them.
But the roots of the day go deeper. For years, many African nations had already been observing Africa Refugee Day on 20 June. When the United Nations officially recognised World Refugee Day, it honoured that leadership and expanded it globally.
Since then, World Refugee Day has become a day of solidarity and recognition in countries around the world. A reminder that protecting refugees isn’t charity — it’s a shared responsibility.
Why is World Refugee Day important in 2025?
Right now, more people are displaced than at any time in recorded history. Conflict, climate change and inequality are forcing millions from their homes — and making it harder than ever to find safety.
From Gaza to South Sudan, from Afghanistan to the Pacific, the need for protection, fairness and compassion has never been clearer. And yet, barriers are rising. Humanitarian aid cuts are depleting the resources available to support families in crisis.
World Refugee Day is a reminder to protect the right to seek safety and to centre dignity, not fear, in how we respond.
How you can stand with refugees
There’s no one right way to support refugees. What matters most is that we do something — and keep doing it, beyond just one day.
You might start by listening. Seeking out refugee voices. Reading stories that go beyond the headlines. You could share what you’ve learned. Talk to your school, your family, your workplace. Spark a conversation that might not otherwise happen.
You could donate. Oxfam partners with displaced communities around the world, supporting access to clean water, shelter, food, and long-term resources as people rebuild their lives with strength and dignity.
However you choose to show up, know this: it matters. You’re standing up for justice, dignity and the belief that every person deserves a safe place to belong.
Looking for more? Learn more about our advocacy and campaigns, how we deliver humanitarian aid, or explore our current appeals.
How Oxfam supports refugees
In 2023, conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. 13 million people, including Shaima, made the difficult decision to flee their homes seeking safety and security.
Shaima was six months pregnant when she arrived at the transit camp in Renk, South Sudan. She and her family have now been there for over a year. When she arrived, all she had was two tops — one she would put under her children while they slept, and the other she would put over them. She feared that her children would go hungry. That’s when she was connected with Oxfam’s cash assistance program, which enabled her to help her family. Here’s her story:
“I came from Medani, Sudan, on 1 January 2024. When I came here, I was six months pregnant with Fahima. The situation was so difficult. I was pregnant and had to go to the forest to collect firewood for sale.
I was the one responsible for everything at home. When I gave birth, I was sleeping down (on the floor) with my daughter and an insect bit on Fahima (my child) causing wound.
So, the money Oxfam gave me, I used for buying a bed where all my children would sleep on. And I was happy. There is no snake or scorpion that can reach them on the bed. It has changed my life for better.
“I used to think what my children would not eat in the morning, and evening. But after I got support from Oxfam, my children has never gone hungry.”
– Shaima, a refugee from Sudan
When the organisation [Oxfam] helped me, and I stopped going to the forest and started a small business to support myself. I received cash of SSP 200,000 (about AUD $50). With the money, the first thing I did was to buy baby kits.
I bought oil, baby clothes and cotton wool because I did not have mama kit. I took a little amount from that money to start a small shop.”
When you donate to Oxfam, you help us immediately respond with our local partners, providing the support families require so they can focus on their next steps. Your support also means we can quickly address evolving crises like cholera, as well as advocate for more humanitarian aid funding to help tackle poverty in the long term.
FAQ
What is the theme for World Refugee Day 2025?
The theme for World Refugee Day 2025 is “Solidarity with Refugees.”
This year’s focus is on what solidarity really means, not just in words but action. This includes listening to refugees, involving them in decisions, and working together to create safer, fairer communities where everyone has the opportunity to rebuild with dignity.
It’s a reminder that refugees don’t just need protection. Like all of us, they need opportunity, safety, and a place to belong.
What is the purpose of World Refugee Day?
The purpose of World Refugee Day is to honour the rights, strength and contributions of refugees around the world. It’s a day to stand in solidarity with people who have been forced to flee — and to call for action that protects their safety, dignity and hopes for the future.
