World Refugee Day, 2009 Real People Real Needs ( June 20th )

jrspet · #1 19.06.2009, 01:14

The global theme for World Refugee Day 2009 is "Real People, Real Needs" the theme highlights the central idea of International refugee protection - that those people who flee their homes because of persecution and conflict need a safe haven from danger.

Previous themes were:

2008 - Put your hands up for Refugees
2007 - Voices of Young Refugees
2006 - I hope ...
2005 - It takes courage to be a refugee

Suggested links:

ECRE
Swiss Chapter www.fluechtlingstag.ch

In many ways, Switzerland's offshore ( only 1 of 2 countries worldwide that provide this facility called extra-territorial asylum ) and onshore refugee system represents world's best practice.

There are several fine examples of Swiss heroes wrt to Refugees ( such as Carl Lutz - Swiss Vice-Consul in Hungary ).

Paul Grüninger who as police commander in SG covertly opposed Heinrich Rothmund's plan and saved 3,601 Jewish refugees by permitting them to enter CH albeit fraudulently. He was exonerated 1995 after passing away in poverty back in 1972.

Foundation Website

Nathu · #2 19.06.2009, 17:12

Thanks for the heads-up and the link to Paul Grüniger. He really is a character that sticks out in Switzerland's WWII history.

The details of the events are hidden in a German PDF, here they are if somebody wants to drop by and educate themselves about the Swiss Refugee Help:

Tomorrow Saturday
Basel: festival on Barfüsserplatz, 11:00-20:00
Berne: festival on Bundeshausplatz, 15:00-22:00
Fribourg: stand on Place du marché de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, 08:00-12:00

Sunday
Various activities from parishes

Canadian_dude · #3 22.06.2009, 14:25

Most refugees are the least deserving of the status. The most needy don't have the strength/money to actually come over.

jrspet · #4 17.06.2011, 15:58

Game URL: http://www.playagainstallodds.com/

Made in conjunction with World Refugee Day on 20th June.

This year's theme is: Be 1 Who Cares.

http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home

jrspet · #5 27.06.2011, 14:28

I was at Buchs SG Bahnhof when I saw this Commemorative plaque by the Hungarian Refugees in CH, acknowledging the Swiss compassion.

The border tracks were hurriedly made in 1956 and had not been tested when the first batch arrived in Buchs SG.

Swissinfo EN article

A related blog page:

http://blog.jacomet.ch/?p=239

PDF story of one refugee is enclosed, from www.migrant.ch

jrspet · #6 29.12.2011, 22:24

The likes of Paul Grüninger and other heroes, not only Swiss, but Poles, French, Germans and Italians are completely and legally rehabilitated after almost 70 years.

	Quote:
	Almost half of the cases treated by the commission were brought by the Paul Grüninger Foundation, named after the St Gallen police commander who saved around 3,600 Jews from Nazis in Austria by forging paperwork so they could enter Switzerland. Grüninger himself had his named cleared posthumously in 1995 by a St Gallen court. Parliamentarian Paul Rechsteiner, who runs the foundation, said the commission had been useful even though it was “a pity” it was set up so late. “Switzerland had a duty towards these people and also towards the present generation to say that they are not criminals, that Switzerland was not right to convict them but that they were heroes for what they did. It’s important for the memory of their descendants.” It was not too late to learn from history either, he noted.

Swissinfo EN