It is totally fitting that today is the 60th anniversary of the Convention on Refugees. Please read on:
The 2011 National tour is now complete -- with 21 cities in ten provinces visited and over 200 people participating in the meetings of the North Star Triangle Project. I am honoured by the participation, interest and enthusiasm of so many people. In the coming days and months I will be reflecting on what these 3 1/2 months have meant. I will keep everyone who indicated an interest posted through email and this blog. Read about the meetings in the last 3 cities below this post as I have just completed meetings in London, Toronto and Ottawa.
It was 60 years ago today that delegates from 26 countries, including the United Kingdom, gathered in Geneva to sign 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It was created to protect European refugees after the horrors of the Second World War.
60 years later, the Convention still serves as a beacon of protection. It has saved the lives of millions of people around the world; and while war, persecution and human rights abuses still exist, the Convention will continue to save millions more.
The 1951 UN Refugee Convention is the cornerstone of 60 years of the Refugee Council’s untiring work to support and protect people who flee to the UK[ or Canada!] in search of safety. Today, we continue to speak out for the right to asylum and to ensure that a safe haven will always be there for those who need it.
(Thanks to the UK Refugee Council for this).
hi
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