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1 Refugee Without Hope is Too Many - World Refugee Day

This year, WRD coincided with the 60th anniversary of the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 50th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The theme of commemoration this year was "1 Refugee without Hope is Too Many". The events marking the World Refugee Day in Kazakhstan took place in two main cities of the country. The main aim of the events was to attract attention of general public, authorities and diplomatic mission to the refugee issues in Central Asian region.

Movie demonstrations were selected to be a powerful visual tool for displaying the refugee life worldwide and in the region. UNHCR invited Mr. Siddiq Barmak, prominent Afghan producer and director with the documentaries, produced by "Barmakfilmstudio" and devoted to refugee issues. A movie, "Osama", was shown to refugees while documentary "Enslaved" was shown to general public, diplomatic community and government authorities.

UNHCR also produced special storytelling videos for the WRD this year. Several of them were shown for the invitees at the movie demonstrations, attended by more than 100 people. The events in Kazakhstan started with an art learning lesson for refugee children. More then 90 children took part in the lesson. The lesson provided a unique opportunity for refugee children to show the talents in drawing and art. Children were drawing their Motherland and Kazakhstan as receiving country.

On June 21 UNHCR conducted a demonstration of movies, tracing the life of refugees, for state authorities, diplomatic community in Astana. More then 80 people attended the event and watched documentaries devoted to the life of refugees.

Aidos Sagat, UNHCR Honorary Patron for Kazakhstan, made a music performance for the invitees and underlined in his speech: "I think that World Refugee Day is not a holiday, but a reason to attract the attention of public and authorities to the refugee issues for finding a better solution" - underlined Mr. Aidos Sagat, UNHCR Honorary Patron. In Almaty events included demonstration of movies for general public, within the framework of the Oleg Boretskiy Cinema Club, on June 22, 2011. The event allowed general public to watch the movie "Welcome", devoted to the destiny of Iraq Refugee and was followed by a discussion of the refugee issues in Kazakhstan. On June 23, 2011 in the cinema house "Ceasar" movie demonstrations were opened for general public. Movies such as "Turtles Can Fly" («Lakposhtha hâm parvaz mikonand»), «The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada» were shown for the general public. More than 400 people attended the events. «I believe that World Refugee Day which is commemorated in more than 100 countries all over the world is a unique opportunity to remember about refugees, their not simple life and try at least on this day to help them and give a hope for a better life. Because even 1 refugee is too many» - underlined Mr. Saber Azam, UNHCR Regional Representative/Regional Coordinator.