On Tuesday 20th June, Hull, City of Sanctuary, will proudly launch World Refugee Day at Hull Minster, formerly Holy Trinity Church and the church of William Wilberforce. The event will run from 11 am throughout the day with lunch provided.  All are welcome to attend for all or part of the day.

The key message of the day is to demonstrate how the global public stands solidly with refugees in these violent and uncertain times and recognises their needs and vulnerability.

The historic venue in the old town will see the declaration of Hull as a City of Sanctuary, in the year that Hull celebrates being the UK City of Culture.

Whilst welcoming people and organisations from all over the UK to celebrate together, the event will also acknowledge the hospitality, friendship and support towards refugees over many years given by the local communities and voluntary agencies in Hull and surrounding areas.

World Refugee Day has been marked on the 20th June ever since the United Nations General Assembly met in 2000 on the fiftieth anniversary of the 1951 International Convention on the Status of Refugees, which first gave a legal basis to refugees, and began to codify the grounds for seeking sanctuary. Sixty million people around the world are currently displaced by crisis and half of them are children.

Key speakers will be: (1) former Kurdish refugee in Hull, Professor Nahro Zagros, now Vice President for Scientific Affairs of Soran University, Iraq; (2) the Bishop of Hull, the Rt Rev Alison White; (3) The Lord Mayor of Hull; and (4) Baroness D`Souza, until recently the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, who has always been a strong advocate for refugees.

Other guests include Maurice Wren, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, and….

The day will be full of lively activities aimed to entertain families and friends in a celebration of music, drama, art and culture.  

Steve Ibbetson chairman of the Hull City of Sanctuary said “We are expecting around 500 visitors, some from overseas and the day will bring together people from all nationalities. It is important that we recognise the immense contribution made over the years to our society by refugees”.

For further information please contact Dr Peter Campion, Secretary, or Steve Ibbetson, Chairman, Hull City of Sanctuary

Email: [email protected]  tel: 07843 220080