Assembly Resolution No. 387
BY: M. of A. Rivera JD
MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 2021, as World Refugee Awareness Month in the
State of New York
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that
affect the lives of citizens of New York State and the world; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2021, as World
Refugee Awareness Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, June was first declared as World Refugee Awareness Month in
2001; since then, the month has been a time to acknowledge strength,
courage and perseverance of millions of refugees who live around the
globe; and
WHEREAS, Refugee children and their families must deal with past
traumatic experiences while integrating into a new and unfamiliar
society; and
WHEREAS, They must look for safety in an unknown culture, and ask
for help in a nonnative language; these children and families have
experienced war-related trauma and disruption, as well as resettlement,
poverty, unemployment, stigmatization, and bias; and
WHEREAS, According to the United Nations, every minute 24 people
leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror; and
WHEREAS, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) was established in December of 1950 to lead and
coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee
problems worldwide; and
WHEREAS, New York has historically ranked among the top locations
for accepting refugees as per Department of State, Bureau of Population,
Refugees and Migration data; and
WHEREAS, Refugees enrich the communities that they settle in by
starting businesses, building careers, purchasing homes and contributing
to the economy; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Refugee Resettlement at the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services has released that International Rescue
Committee (IRC), Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), Church World
Service (CWS), Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC), Episcopal
Migration Ministries (EMM), United States Committee for Refugees and
Immigrants (USCRI), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS),
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and World Relief
Corporation (WR), some of the organizations responsible for resettling
refugees in our community, along with numerous other community
organizations and religious institutions have resettled more than 5,028
refugees in New York since October 2015 from more than 40 countries
including Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq and Syria; and
WHEREAS, It is important to also pay tribute to the dedication of
humanitarian workers both domestically and abroad who devote their lives
to ensuring that vulnerable people can find a home; and
WHEREAS, There continue to be individuals and families in need of
refuge and the support of New York State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2021, as World
Refugee Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.