World Refugee Day 2002: United States of America

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie and US Secretary of State Colin Powell celebrating World Refugee Day in Washington, D.C. © UNHCR/H.Farhad

© © UNHCR/H.Farhad

A World Refugee Day event was organised by UNHCR and USA for UNHCR at the Union Station in Washington D.C. In his opening speech, the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, read a statement from US President George W. Bush. Safia Jahed, an Afghan refugee, also took the stage and gave a first-hand account of life in exile. UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina Jolie, made an opening speech for the children's poster contest exhibition with the theme of "Tolerance".

Also on display were photographs of women refugees, a UNHCR tent and other information on the Refugee Agency. Accompanying these was a three-day extravaganza of multicultural performances that featured an Ethiopian singer, a

Hmong rapper/comedian, clown doctor Patch Adams, and dances from Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.