Every year on 20 June, UNHCR leads the celebration of World Refugee Day. The Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe, and offers a chance to raise awareness of the plight of refugees around the world and of the efforts to protect their human rights.

World Refugee Day was first held in 2001, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It was originally known as Africa Refugee Day, before the United Nations General Assembly officially designated it as an international day in December 2000.

Each year, World Refugee Day is marked by a variety of events in many countries around the globe in support of refugees. These activities are led by or involve refugees themselves, government officials, host communities, companies, celebrities, school children and the general public, among others.

As part of World Refugee Day, the UNHCR often posts a series of short videos about refugees and members of their local host community to showcase common values and solidarity. The videos highlight shared values of refugees and members of the communities, and tell refugee stories.