AJR 15: World Refugee Day.

This measure would recognize June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day, and urge the President and Congress of the United States to strengthen the international leadership role of the United States to find political solutions to existing conflicts, prevent new conflicts from beginning, and aid people who have been displaced by conflict, and also urge the Congress of the United States to make a bipartisan commitment to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons.

This measure would recognize June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day, and urge the President and Congress of the United States to strengthen the international leadership role of the United States to find political solutions to existing conflicts, prevent new conflicts from beginning, and aid people who have been displaced by conflict, and also urge the Congress of the United States to make a bipartisan commitment to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons.

This measure would recognize June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day, and urge the President and Congress of the United States to strengthen the international leadership role of the United States to find political solutions to existing conflicts, prevent new conflicts from beginning, and aid people who have been displaced by conflict, and also urge the Congress of the United States to make a bipartisan commitment to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons.

This measure would recognize June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day, and urge the President and Congress of the United States to strengthen the international leadership role of the United States to find political solutions to existing conflicts, prevent new conflicts from beginning, and aid people who have been displaced by conflict, and also urge the Congress of the United States to make a bipartisan commitment to promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and displaced persons.

WHEREAS, People displaced by conflict, instability, and persecution, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people who seek safety in other parts of their home country, face innumerable challenges in addition to the trauma of being forced from their home, including language and cultural barriers, difficulty securing work and housing, and limited access to health care and other social services; and

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; and

WHEREAS, Children account for nearly one-half of the refugee population in the world, millions of whom are unable to access basic services including education; and

WHEREAS, At the end of 2019, there were nearly 80,000,000 displaced people worldwide, the highest levels ever recorded, including roughly 45,700,000 internally displaced people, 26,000,000 refugees, and 4,200,000 people seeking asylum; and

WHEREAS, Sporadic outbursts of violence in Burundi have prompted more than 330,000 Burundians, as of July 2020, to flee to the neighboring countries of Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2019, violence and widespread conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo resulted in the internal displacement of 5,000,000 people; and

WHEREAS, Violent insurgent attacks in Nigeria have forced 684,000 people to flee to the neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, and have internally displaced over 2,900,000 people as of 2020; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 2,000,000 South Sudanese people are internally displaced, and over 2,000,000 are refugees, mainly in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda, as a result of the humanitarian emergency that has been ongoing since December 2013; and

WHEREAS, Between 2014 and 2017, more than 5,000,000 Iraqis fleeing violence were internally displaced, and, as of 2019, more than 259,000 refugees have fled to nearby countries; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 6,600,000 refugees have fled Syria since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011 and more than 6,700,000 people are internally displaced; and

WHEREAS, Since 2014, more than 2,000,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa, and at least 20,000 women, men, and children have died or gone missing during those crossings; and

WHEREAS, More than 85,000 women, men, and children, including many persecuted Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, departed on smugglers boats from the Bay of Bengal by 2015, more than 1,000 of whom died at sea; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2019, approximately 1,800,000 people were displaced within Ukraine, with approximately 60,000 Ukrainians seeking protection in other countries as a result of the worsening humanitarian situation in nongovernment controlled areas; and

WHEREAS, As of 2020, violence, insecurity, threats, and a lack of food, medicine, and essential medical services have led to more than 5,000,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants worldwide; and

WHEREAS, Civil unrest and clashes between armed groups have resulted in over 7,000,000 internally displaced Colombians as of the end of 2018; and

WHEREAS, Since 1975, the United States has welcomed more than 3,000,000 refugees who are resettled in communities across the country; and

WHEREAS, Since the enactment of the United States Refugee Act of 1980, California has greatly benefited from being a national leader in welcoming refugees from all faiths and regions of the world; and

WHEREAS, California maintains a proud history of diversity and inclusion by resettling refugees around the world from countries including: Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Columbia, Congo, Cote DIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, former Soviet Union, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe; and

WHEREAS, The well-established refugee communities in California have significantly strengthened the worldwide economic positioning of California and contributed to advancing the state as the fifth largest economy on Earth; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature reaffirms the strong bipartisan commitment of the United States and California to protect and assist millions of refugees and other forcibly uprooted persons worldwide; and

WHEREAS, The United States provides critical resources and support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international and nongovernmental organizations working with refugees around the world; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature commends those who have risked their lives working individually and for the countless nongovernmental organizations and international agencies such as UNHCR that have provided lifesaving assistance and helped protect those displaced by conflict around the world; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations designates Sunday, June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day, a global day to honor the courage, strength, and determination of women, men, and children who are forced to flee their homes under the threats of conflict, violence, and persecution; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature recognizes June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the President and the Congress of the United States to strengthen the international leadership role of the United States to find political solutions to existing conflicts, prevent new conflicts from beginning, and aid those who have been displaced, including the most vulnerable populations who endure sexual violence, human trafficking, forced conscription, genocide, and exploitation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to make a bipartisan commitment to promote the safety, health, and well-being of the millions of refugees and displaced persons who flee war, persecution, and torture in search of peace, hope, and freedom; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, People displaced by conflict, instability, and persecution, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people who seek safety in other parts of their home country, face innumerable challenges in addition to the trauma of being forced from their home, including language and cultural barriers, difficulty securing work and housing, and limited access to health care and other social services; and

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; and

WHEREAS, Children account for nearly one-half of the refugee population in the world, millions of whom are unable to access basic services including education; and

WHEREAS, At the end of 2019, there were nearly 80,000,000 displaced people worldwide, the highest levels ever recorded, including roughly 45,700,000 internally displaced people, 26,000,000 refugees, and 4,200,000 people seeking asylum; and

WHEREAS, Sporadic outbursts of violence in Burundi have prompted more than 330,000 Burundians, as of July 2020, to flee to the neighboring countries of Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2019, violence and widespread conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo resulted in the internal displacement of 5,000,000 people; and

WHEREAS, Violent insurgent attacks in Nigeria have forced 684,000 people to flee to the neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, and have internally displaced over 2,900,000 people as of 2020; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 2,000,000 South Sudanese people are internally displaced, and over 2,000,000 are refugees, mainly in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda, as a result of the humanitarian emergency that has been ongoing since December 2013; and

WHEREAS, Between 2014 and 2017, more than 5,000,000 Iraqis fleeing violence were internally displaced, and, as of 2019, more than 259,000 refugees have fled to nearby countries; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 6,600,000 refugees have fled Syria since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011 and more than 6,700,000 people are internally displaced; and

WHEREAS, Since 2014, more than 2,000,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa, and at least 20,000 women, men, and children have died or gone missing during those crossings; and

WHEREAS, More than 85,000 women, men, and children, including many persecuted Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, departed on smugglers boats from the Bay of Bengal by 2015, more than 1,000 of whom died at sea; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2019, approximately 1,800,000 people were displaced within Ukraine, with approximately 60,000 Ukrainians seeking protection in other countries as a result of the worsening humanitarian situation in nongovernment controlled areas; and

WHEREAS, As of 2020, violence, insecurity, threats, and a lack of food, medicine, and essential medical services have led to more than 5,000,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants worldwide; and

WHEREAS, Civil unrest and clashes between armed groups have resulted in over 7,000,000 internally displaced Colombians as of the end of 2018; and

WHEREAS, Since 1975, the United States has welcomed more than 3,000,000 refugees who are resettled in communities across the country; and

WHEREAS, Since the enactment of the United States Refugee Act of 1980, California has greatly benefited from being a national leader in welcoming refugees from all faiths and regions of the world; and

WHEREAS, California maintains a proud history of diversity and inclusion by resettling refugees around the world from countries including: Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Columbia, Congo, Cote DIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, former Soviet Union, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe; and

WHEREAS, The well-established refugee communities in California have significantly strengthened the worldwide economic positioning of California and contributed to advancing the state as the fifth largest economy on Earth; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature reaffirms the strong bipartisan commitment of the United States and California to protect and assist millions of refugees and other forcibly uprooted persons worldwide; and

WHEREAS, The United States provides critical resources and support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international and nongovernmental organizations working with refugees around the world; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature commends those who have risked their lives working individually and for the countless nongovernmental organizations and international agencies such as UNHCR that have provided lifesaving assistance and helped protect those displaced by conflict around the world; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations designates Sunday, June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day, a global day to honor the courage, strength, and determination of women, men, and children who are forced to flee their homes under the threats of conflict, violence, and persecution; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature recognizes June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the President and the Congress of the United States to strengthen the international leadership role of the United States to find political solutions to existing conflicts, prevent new conflicts from beginning, and aid those who have been displaced, including the most vulnerable populations who endure sexual violence, human trafficking, forced conscription, genocide, and exploitation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to make a bipartisan commitment to promote the safety, health, and well-being of the millions of refugees and displaced persons who flee war, persecution, and torture in search of peace, hope, and freedom; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, People displaced by conflict, instability, and persecution, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people who seek safety in other parts of their home country, face innumerable challenges in addition to the trauma of being forced from their home, including language and cultural barriers, difficulty securing work and housing, and limited access to health care and other social services; and

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; and

WHEREAS, Children account for over half nearly one-half of the refugee population in the world, millions of whom are unable to access basic services including education; and

WHEREAS, At the end of 2019, there were nearly 80,000,000 displaced people worldwide, the highest levels ever recorded, including roughly 45,700,000 internally displaced people, 26,000,000 refugees, and 4,200,000 people seeking asylum; and

WHEREAS, Sporadic outbursts of violence in Burundi have prompted more than 330,000 Burundians, as of July 2020, to flee to the neighboring countries of Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2019, violence and widespread conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo resulted in the internal displacement of 5,000,000 people; and

WHEREAS, Violent insurgent attacks in Nigeria have forced 684,000 people to flee to the neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, and have internally displaced over 2,700,000 2,900,000 people as of 2019; 2020; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 2,000,000 South Sudanese people are internally displaced, and over 2,000,000 are refugees, mainly in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda, as a result of the humanitarian emergency that has been ongoing since December 2013; and

WHEREAS, Between 2014 and 2017, more than 5,000,000 Iraqis fleeing violence were internally displaced, and, as of 2019, more than 259,000 refugees have fled to nearby countries; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 5,600,000 6,600,000 refugees have fled Syria since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011 and more than 6,600,000 6,700,000 people are internally displaced; and

WHEREAS, Since 2014, more than 2,000,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa, and at least 20,000 women, men, and children have died or gone missing during those crossings; and

WHEREAS, More than 95,000 85,000 women, men, and children, including many persecuted Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, have departed on smugglers boats from the Bay of Bengal since 2014, by 2015, more than 1,000 of whom have died at sea; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2016, 2019, approximately 1,600,000 1,800,000 people were displaced within Ukraine Ukraine, with approximately 470,000 60,000 Ukrainians seeking protection in other countries as a result of the worsening humanitarian situation in nongovernment controlled areas; and

WHEREAS, As of 2020, violence, insecurity, threats, and a lack of food, medicine, and essential medical services have led to more than 5,000,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants worldwide; and

WHEREAS, Civil unrest and clashes between armed groups have resulted in over 7,000,000 internally displaced Colombians as of March the end of 2018; and

WHEREAS, Since 1975, the United States has welcomed more than 3,000,000 refugees who are resettled in communities across the country; and

WHEREAS, Since the enactment of the United States Refugee Act of 1980, California has greatly benefited from being a national leader in welcoming refugees from all faiths and regions of the world; and

WHEREAS, California maintains a proud history of diversity and inclusion by resettling refugees around the world from countries including: Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Columbia, Congo, Cote DIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, former Soviet Union, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe; and

WHEREAS, The well-established refugee communities in California have significantly strengthened the worldwide economic positioning of California and contributed to advancing the state as the fifth largest economy on earth; Earth; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature reaffirms the strong bipartisan commitment of the United States and California to protect and assist millions of refugees and other forcibly uprooted persons worldwide; and

WHEREAS, The United States provides critical resources and support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international and nongovernmental organizations working with refugees around the world; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature commends those who have risked their lives working individually and for the countless nongovernmental organizations and international agencies such as UNHCR that have provided life-saving lifesaving assistance and helped protect those displaced by conflict around the world; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations designates Sunday, June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day, a global day to honor the courage, strength, and determination of women, men, and children who are forced to flee their homes under the threats of conflict, violence, and persecution; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature recognizes June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the President and the Congress of the United States to strengthen the international leadership role of the United States to find political solutions to existing conflicts, prevent new conflicts from beginning, and aid those who have been displaced, including the most vulnerable populations who endure sexual violence, human trafficking, forced conscription, genocide, and exploitation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to make a bipartisan commitment to promote the safety, health, and well-being of the millions of refugees and displaced persons who flee war, persecution, and torture in search of peace, hope, and freedom; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, People displaced by conflict, instability, and persecution, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced people who seek safety in other parts of their home country, face innumerable challenges in addition to the trauma of being forced from their home, including language and cultural barriers, difficulty securing work and housing, and limited access to health care and other social services; and

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; and

WHEREAS, Children account for over half of the refugee population in the world, millions of whom are unable to access basic services including education; and

WHEREAS, At the end of 2019, there were nearly 80,000,000 displaced people worldwide, the highest levels ever recorded, including roughly 45,700,000 internally displaced people, 26,000,000 refugees, and 4,200,000 people seeking asylum; and

WHEREAS, Sporadic outbursts of violence in Burundi have prompted more than 330,000 Burundians, as of July 2020, to flee to the neighboring countries of Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2015, more than 470,000 refugees from the Central African Republic had fled violence and political insecurity into neighboring Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo, and tens of thousands more are internally displaced; and

WHEREAS, Violent insurgent attacks in Nigeria have forced 684,000 people to flee to the neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, and have internally displaced over 2,700,000 people as of 2019; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 2,000,000 South Sudanese people are internally displaced, and over 2,000,000 are refugees, mainly in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda, as a result of the humanitarian emergency that has been ongoing since December 2013; and

WHEREAS, Since January 2014, more than 3,000,000 Iraqis fleeing violence have been internally displaced, and 260,000 refugees have fled to neighboring countries; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 5,600,000 refugees have fled Syria since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011 and more than 6,600,000 people are internally displaced; and

WHEREAS, As of June 2015, more than 100,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa and at least 1,800 women, men, and children have died during such crossings or are missing; and

WHEREAS, More than 95,000 women, men, and children, including many persecuted Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, have departed on smugglers boats from the Bay of Bengal since 2014, more than 1,000 of whom have died at sea; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2016, approximately 1,600,000 people were displaced within Ukraine with approximately 470,000 Ukrainians seeking protection in other countries as a result of the worsening humanitarian situation in nongovernment controlled areas; and

WHEREAS, Civil unrest and clashes between armed groups have resulted in over 7,000,000 internally displaced Colombians as of March 2018; and

WHEREAS, Since 1975, the United States has welcomed more than 3,000,000 refugees who are resettled in communities across the country; and

WHEREAS, Since the enactment of the United States Refugee Act of 1980, California has greatly benefited from being a national leader in welcoming refugees from all faiths and regions of the world; and

WHEREAS, California maintains a proud history of diversity and inclusion by resettling refugees around the world from countries including: Afghanistan, Algeria, Anguilla, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Columbia, Congo, Cote DIvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, former Soviet Union, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe; and

WHEREAS, The well-established refugee communities in California have significantly strengthened the worldwide economic positioning of California and contributed to advancing the state as the fifth largest economy on earth; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature reaffirms the strong bipartisan commitment of the United States and California to protect and assist millions of refugees and other forcibly uprooted persons worldwide; and

WHEREAS, The United States provides critical resources and support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international and nongovernmental organizations working with refugees around the world; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature commends those who have risked their lives working individually and for the countless nongovernmental organizations and international agencies such as UNHCR that have provided life-saving assistance and helped protect those displaced by conflict around the world; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations designates Sunday, June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day, a global day to honor the courage, strength, and determination of women, men, and children who are forced to flee their homes under the threats of conflict, violence, and persecution; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature recognizes June 20, 2021, as World Refugee Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the President and the Congress of the United States to strengthen the international leadership role of the United States to find political solutions to existing conflicts, prevent new conflicts from beginning, and aid those who have been displaced, including the most vulnerable populations who endure sexual violence, human trafficking, forced conscription, genocide, and exploitation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to make a bipartisan commitment to promote the safety, health, and well-being of the millions of refugees and displaced persons who flee war, persecution, and torture in search of peace, hope, and freedom; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.