World Refugee Day 2002: Tunisia

On 21 June, a joint UNHCR-Tunisian Scouts event took place. Some 80 people, including Scouts, youths and refugee families attended. Posters and a photo exhibit were displayed. A drawing contest of the theme "Mummy and me" was launched among the refugee children, and some 12 drawings were also displayed. After the speeches and showing of the UNHCR film "We Were There," the results of the drawing contest were announced. Each winner received a 50-dinar voucher that can be used at a department store. All the participants of the contest also received books from the French Institute of Co-operation. Refreshments and food, including cakes made by refugee women, were served. The participants enjoyed Algerian music performed by a refugee band. Scouts also played music. The event closed with a song celebrating the friendship between the refugees and the Scouts.

World Refugee Day was celebrated in Tunis on 20 June by UNHCR in co-operation with the United Nations Information Centre at the common UN office. Delegations from the French and Palestinian Embassies as well as UNFPA were present. The World Refugee Day messages by the UN Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees were read. UNHCR made a presentation on the protection challenges faced by refugee women. The UNHCR film "Don't Look Back" was shown. A brief Q & A session also took place.