What is a Refugee?
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A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence.
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A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.
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Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries (UNHCR).
United Nations Refugee Convention (1951)
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Legally defined the term "refugee"
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Created in response to large populations fleeing Eastern Europe after World War II
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Clearly spells out the legal protection, assistance and social rights that refugees should receive from nations that agreed to and signed this agreement
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Each minute, 24 people are forced to leave their homeland due to war, persecution or terror (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
Who is NOT a Refugee?
Refugee:
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Forced to leave home due to threat of persecution
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Cannot return home safely
Economic Migrant:
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Leaves home voluntarily to seek a better life
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Can voluntarily choose to return home
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If return home, will receive protection by own government
Refugee Resources
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Ted Talk: Melissa Flemming - A Boat Carrying 500 Refugees Sunk at Sea. The Story of Two Survivors (18 minutes)
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God Grew Tired of US - A documentary about 3 of the "Lost Boys of Sudan", a group of some 25,000 young men who have fled the wars in Sudan since the 1980s, and their experiences as they move to the United States.(2 hours, 26 minutes)
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Save the Children: Most Shocking Day Refugee Simulation (3 minutes)
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Syrian Refugee Journey: Choose Your Own Escape Route