Senate Resolution No. 2594
BY: Senator KAPLAN
MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 20, 2020, as World Refugee Day in the State of
New York, in conjunction with the observance of the
United Nations World Refugee Day
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that
affect the lives of citizens of New York State and the world; 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, There were 25.4 million refugees of concern to UNHCR around
the world at the end of 2017; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the UNHCR had determined that 1.19 million
refugees are in need of immediate resettlement at the end of 2017; and
WHEREAS, Between October 1, 2017, and May 31, 2018, the United
States admitted 14,331 refugees, according to the U.S. The Bureau of
Population, Refugees, and Migration; and
WHEREAS, New York consistently ranks among the top Nations for
accepting refugees as per Department of State, Bureau of Population,
Refugees and Migration data; 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 20, 2020, as World
Refugee Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of United Nations World Refugee Day; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York, and Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees.
