Standing #WithRefugees on World Refugee Day

June 20, 2016

June 20th marks World Refugee Day, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) continues to stand by refugees who are fleeing violence or the threat of violence and seeking safety.

Refugees facing violence and high levels of fear and persecution are willing to risk their lives to reach safety. Since the civil war in Syria began, twelve million refugees have been forced to flee , and the number of refugees fleeing war and violence globally has risen to 60 million people. Due to harmful and restrictive foreign policies, refugees are faced with limited options and dangerous travel routes in an attempt to reach safety. Many refugees are vulnerable to exploitation, violence and abuse.

At NNEDV, we stand with all individuals and families seeking a life free from violence. Refugees are human beings – women, men, children, and families – with ambitions and dreams. Their voices are valuable and deserve recognition not only today, but throughout the year. Refugees face many challenges in their effort to escape, including stigma, lack of support, and navigating a confusing immigration legal system. WomensLaw, a project of NNEDV, offers immigration legal information and resources related to refugee status and other immigration remedies for survivors of violence. NNEDV offers our continued support and recognition to refugees seeking freedom from violence. Pledge your support and stand #WithRefugees today.

NNEDV is an ally in the effort to stem the tide of aggressive deportation policies that send vulnerable women and children back to the threat domestic violence, sexual assault, and even death. We urge the Administration to adequately evaluate the asylum claims of those fleeing from Central America who have faced unspeakable horrors and who are running for their lives.

You can also get involved in reading and discussing the effects of immigration policies by joining our online book club, Reader with a Cause. We are currently reading In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero, which chronicles one family’s experience being undocumented in the United States.