We were honored to help facilitate the People’s Proclamation for World Refugee Day in Coralville in collaboration with Iowa Chapter Leader of the United Nations Association of the USA Bijou Maliabo.

Although Coralville Mayor Goodrich declined on behalf of the city of Coralville to participate in recognizing both Congolese Independence Day and World Refugee Day, six other cities in Iowa have approved the proclamations, and three additional cities are holding the matter under consideration. 

Despite setbacks like Coralville, Bijou and her collaborators are continuing their efforts to educate, engage, celebrate, and build partnerships with communities and cities that are willing to come together for the benefit of all.

PROCLAMATION TEXT:

WORLD REFUGEE DAY

WHEREAS, World Refugee Day is observed annually on June 20 and was officially designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000, with the first global observance taking place on June 20, 2001, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees; and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) continues to lead international efforts to protect and assist people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, violence, and human rights violations; and

WHEREAS, in the aftermath of the Second World War, the international community affirmed through global agreements that the right to seek safety and protection is a fundamental human right intended for all people, not for a select few; and

WHEREAS, millions of people around the world continue to be forcibly displaced, and the protection of refugees remains a shared responsibility that strengthens communities, promotes stability, and saves lives; and

WHEREAS, refugees have become an integral part of Coralville, Iowa, contributing to the strength and vitality of our community through their work in healthcare, education, hospitality, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and public service, while also enriching our neighborhoods with diverse cultures, languages, traditions, and perspectives; and the City of Coralville has long been recognized as welcoming communities that value inclusion, support resettlement efforts, and affirm the importance of ensuring that refugees are received with dignity, respect, and opportunities to fully participate in civic and community life; and

WHEREAS, the people of Coralville recognize the importance of compassion, inclusion, and global cooperation in responding to displacement and acknowledges the efforts of organizations, volunteers, and residents who support refugees in pursuing safety, dignity, and opportunity;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the people of Coralville, Iowa, do hereby proclaim June 20, 2026, as WORLD REFUGEE DAY in Coralville, and encourage all residents to recognize the courage and resilience of refugees, to deepen understanding of global displacement, and to support efforts that uphold the right of all people to seek safety and protection.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the people of Coralville request that the City of Coralville joins the United Nations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in reaffirming its commitment to protecting human rights, advancing peaceful solutions to displacement, and ensuring that all people may live in safety, freedom, and dignity.

Proclaimed this 23rd Day of June, 2026

Signed, the people of Coralville and Surrounding Communities