On Wednesday the Library of Birmingham will be lit up orange to mark the 70th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention.

28 July 28 2021, will mark the 70th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which alongside its 1967 Protocol, first legally defined the term ‘refugee’ in universal terms and outlined the rights and obligations of refugees, and therefore the legal obligations of States to protect those fleeing the horrors of persecution and offer them an opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety.

To mark seven decades of the Convention, charity partner UK for UNHCR is asking the nation to help compile a dictionary that will define one word: refugee.

They are encouraging everyone to take part.

The project aims to delve beyond the legal meaning of the word ‘refugee,’ exploring what the concept means to different people and to bring out individual stories and impressions of people who have sought refuge or worked with and supported the forcibly displaced.

The dictionary will be unveiled on 28 July. Full details and information can be found on the UNHCR website.

Article posted 27 July 2021.