24 May 2016

A group of six organisations working for refugees’ rights in Belgium, including ECRE, present today a new website aimed at raising awareness of refugees’ issues in the country and globally, ahead of World Refugee Day 2016. The website contains general background information about asylum seekers and refugees, personal stories and testimonies, a list of events that will take place in Belgium around World Refugee Day, and suggestions for involvement with refugee-related initiatives.

World Refugee Day, a commemoration initiated by a UN General Assembly Resolution in 2000, is a day to draw everyone’s attention to the plight of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people worldwide. The website is the central platform for World Refugee Day in Belgium, and is a joint initiative of ECRE, UNHCR, the Federal Agency for the reception of asylum seekers (Fedasil), Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, Croix-Rouge de Belgique and 11.11.11.

The organisations are furthermore supporting an initiative by the Brussels Jazz Orchestra in collaboration with Ancienne Belgique and Bozar, Artists #WithRefugees. Participation to the event is open to the public, and tickets can be bought here. Follow the #WithRefugees on social media throughout the month to keep updated on events and initiatives around World Refugee Day.

Read the full press release here.