World Refugee Year (1959-60)
Introduction
World Refugee Year (WRY) was an ambitious effort by the UN, governments (mostly in the First World), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to raise public awareness of enduring refugee situations and find solutions, such as resettlement or local integration, that would improve the lives of refugees around the world, not just in Europe but also in the Middle East, Hong Kong, and China. In addition, it was hoped that the 1951 Refugee Convention would be signed by more nations and that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would become more well-known. The suffering of DPs and refugees who were still residing in camps and other subpar housing in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Greece 15 years after the war's end received particular attention. Between June 1959 and June 1960, the campaign drew participants from more than 60 nations. Along with Norway, Sweden, Germany, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, Britain also played a significant role. Soviet bloc nations refused to participate in WRY on the grounds that if Western governments did more to entice DPs from Eastern Europe to return to their homes, the "refugee problem" in Europe could be instantly remedied.
"Through frequent repetition, the word "refugee" had come to lose much of its poignancy, and there was little personal knowledge of the plight and sufferings of refugees beyond the immediate areas where they were living," the UN office for WRY claimed that public opinion had grown accustomed to refugees in the abstract. WRY wanted to change this circumstance.
Various initiatives for fundraising were organised
Numerous fundraising events were planned, including the concurrent issuance of first-day covers by 70 postal authorities worldwide. But the purpose of issuing stamps was not merely to raise money; it was also a chance to express sentiments and presumptions about migrants. Austria's stamp promoted the 1956 Hungarian exodus and, indirectly, the nation's most recent aid to refugees. On the US postage stamp, refugees might be seen silhouetted against a stark wall, "facing (as the PR indicated) down a long black corridor towards a brilliant exit, suggesting escape from the gloom of want and oppression into the brightness of a new life." The graphics emphasised the idea that the ad will help migrants leave the miserable camp and move into comfortable, modern surroundings, replacing their despondency with hope. WRY stamps made it possible to "tell the refugee experience, a story that always begins with flight and despair and sometimes ends in hope and resettlement."
Stamps, films and photos played a vital part in drawing attention to the plight of refugees
Along with stamps, movies and photographs were extremely important in bringing attention to the situation of refugees and the help that the UN and nongovernmental organisations gave in getting them out of camps and into proper housing. The UN shared tales of refugees who had given up hope but could now see a better future because of WRY. A young refugee child was featured in a potent marketing image, and on the following page was an advertisement for a package vacation, drawing comparisons between extreme poverty and joyous spending.
Most camps for the ‘hard core’ had been closed By 1960s
The majority of "hard core" camps had been shut down by the 1960s, and DPs had either been resettled or relocated to more up-to-date housing. The UNHCR's reputation was raised. It was dubbed "the most universal short-term humanitarian project" by the British government. The movement had idealistic overtones, but participants soon realised that fresh refugee problems were starting to materialise, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, although Palestinian and Tibetan exiles received some aid and funding for various initiatives, the campaign did not (and was not intended to) satisfy their fundamental demands for the return of their "homeland." WRY could not provide long-term solutions, but it did give the general public a chance to learn more about the daily problems that refugees experience. It is important to remember the UNHCR official's observation that "nothing is easier than thinking of the refugees after a while as a nuisance or as problematic foreigners." They are neither superior people nor heroes in actuality. Despite the fact that they are relatively ordinary folks like everyone else, they live in unusual circumstances.
Comments