III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 503 

Recognizing June 20, 2016, as ‘‘World Refugee Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 20, 2016 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, 

Mr. DURBIN, Mr. COONS, Mrs. MURRAY, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. WYDEN, 

Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. BROWN, Mr. REED, Mr. 

PETERS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. KAINE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing June 20, 2016, as ‘‘World Refugee Day’’. 

Whereas World Refugee Day is a global day to acknowledge 

the courage, strength, and determination of women, men, 

and children who are forced to flee their homes due to 

conflict, violence, and persecution; 

Whereas according to the United Nations High Commissioner 

for Refugees (referred to in this preamble as 

‘‘UNHCR’’)— 

(1) there are more than 65,300,000 displaced people 

worldwide, the highest levels ever recorded, including almost 21,300,000 refugees, 40,800,000 internally displaced people, and 3,200,000 people seeking asylum; 


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•SRES 503 IS 

(2) children account for 51 percent of the refugee 

population in the world, millions of whom are unable to 

access basic services including education; 

(3) nearly 4,800,000 refugees have fled Syria since 

the start of the Syrian conflict and more than 6,600,000 

people are internally displaced within Syria; 

(4) since January 2014, more than 3,300,000 Iraqis 

fleeing violence have been internally displaced, and 

277,000 refugees have fled to neighboring countries; 

(5) ongoing conflict, violence, and persecution have 

resulted in the displacement of millions across South 

Sudan, Ukraine, Colombia, and the Central African Republic; 

(6) since April 2015, sporadic outbursts of violence 

in Burundi have prompted more than 265,000 Burundians to flee to the neighboring countries of Rwanda, 

Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the 

Congo; 

(7) violent insurgent attacks in Nigeria have forced 

220,000 people to flee to the neighboring countries of 

Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, and have internally displaced nearly 2,200,000 people; 

(8) between January and June of 2016, more than 

206,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean Sea attempting to reach Europe and at least 

2,800 women, men, and children have died during such 

crossings or are missing after such attempts; and 

(9) approximately 95,000 women, men, and children, 

including many persecuted Rohingya refugees from 

Burma, have departed on the boats of smugglers in the 

Bay of Bengal since 2014, more than 1,100 of whom 

have died at sea; 


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•SRES 503 IS 

Whereas refugees who are women and girls are often at a 

greater risk of sexual violence and exploitation, forced or 

early marriage, human trafficking, and other forms of 

gender-based violence; 

Whereas the United States is the largest donor to UNHCR 

and provides critical resources and support to international and nongovernmental organizations working 

with refugees around the world; and 

Whereas since 1975, the United States has welcomed more 

than 3,000,000 refugees who are resettled in communities across the country: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms the commitment of the United 

3 States to promote the safety, health, and well-being 

4 of the millions of refugees, including the education 

5 of refugee children and displaced persons who flee 

6 war, persecution, or torture in search of peace, hope, 

7 and freedom; 

8 (2) calls upon the United States Government— 

9 (A) to continue its international leadership 

10 role in response to those who have been dis11 placed, including the most vulnerable popu12 lations who may endure sexual violence, human 

13 trafficking, forced conscription, persecution, or 

14 exploitation; 

15 (B) to find solutions to existing conflicts 

16 and prevent new conflicts from beginning; 


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•SRES 503 IS 

1 (C) to provide humanitarian and develop2 ment support to countries around the world 

3 that are hosting millions of refugees to alleviate 

4 social and economic strains placed on host com5 munities; and 

6 (D) to encourage the international commu7 nity to increase resources to address current 

8 and projected refugee crises; 

9 (3) commends those who have risked their lives 

10 working individually and for nongovernmental orga11 nizations and international agencies such as 

12 UNHCR who have provided life-saving assistance 

13 and helped protect those displaced by conflict 

14 around the world; and 

15 (4) reiterates the strong commitment of the 

16 United States to protect and assist millions of refu17 gees and other forcibly uprooted persons worldwide, 

18 consistent with the values of the United States and 

19 with the interests of national security. 

Æ 


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