Together the organizations want to make the general public aware of the implications of having to flee your country because of war, political ideas, background, religion or gender. By telling background stories, the newspaper aims to prevent misunderstandings about refugees and to put the international role of the Netherlands concerning the reception of refugees into perspective.
The journal features stories from refugees, about their escape from danger, life in a Dutch reception centre (AZC), the conditions in detention centres, their integration and contribution to Dutch society, their return and their reintegration in countries of origin. The American actress Angelina Jolie makes a plea for more concern for the fate of refugees.
UNHCR took the initiative for this Refugee journal, which resulted in a unique cooperation between Amnesty International, IOM, Kerk In Actie, Stichting voor Vluchteling-Studenten UAF, Stichting Vluchteling, Stichting de Vrolijkheid, VluchtelingenWerk Nederland and UNHCR.
The journal comes with a special website: www.wereldvluchtelingendag.nl for readers interested in backgrounds and further information. A press release about the journal and the website has been distributed on June 18 on behalf of all eight organizations.
