World Refugee Day 2004 National Activity Plan: Serbia and Montenegro

UNHCR decided to focus this year's World Refugee Day celebrations in Kosovo on the theme, "Coming Home".

Prior to 20 June, in the Prishtine/Pristina region, 40 children of different ethnic backgrounds will be provided with disposable cameras to participate in a photo contest. The children will be asked to take random photographs from a child's point of view - "Life as a Refugee". Forty photographs will be selected to organise an exhibition at Pristina Stadium on 20 June.

At the same time, in Pristina stadium, the KFOR "Running Together" fun run will take place. T-shirts, leaflets and badges will be given to all participants in the race as well as to the public. The fun run event is sponsored by KFOR in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Youth. The event aims to strengthen the peace process in Kosovo by promoting inter-ethnic participation in a sporting event. Spokespersons from KFOR and local dignitaries will commemorate World Refugee Day. A private reception will be held for the participating children.

In Gjilan/Gnjilane region, UNHCR will organise a day on 17 June for single mothers, Albanian refugees and their children. A picnic lunch will take place and recreational activities will be organised for children, including painting and a theatre play. This event will provide an opportunity to discuss protection concerns with women. Each participant will receive their completed painting, a badge and a World Refugee Day T-shirt.

In the Peje/Pec region, a group of Istog/Istok youth from different cultural backgrounds will create stories and poems on refugee and return issues. The writings will be collected in a book to be published in Albanian, Bosniak and Serbian languages. The book will be distributed to schools at the regional level.

Final works will be presented to the public at a ceremony and will be read by children in their native tongue. Local officials will attend. On this occasion, youth from a minority group - supported by UNHCR though a Community Development Project that helps members of Ashkalia from Kline/Klina - will play traditional music. Each participant will receive a copy of the book and a World Refugee Day T-shirt.

In the Prizren region, a donation of 100-130 children's books will be made to the Prizren Public Library, with 20% of the books related to refugee issues and promoting tolerance and peace. The books will be part of the cargo vehicle which operates as a mobile library, making daily visits to the remote minority and majority villages where freedom of movement is restricted. The bus visits over 21 villages in the Prizren municipality and provides a large number of children with access to literature. UNHCR will organise a reception at the Culture House in Prizren to donate the books. Local dignitaries will attend.

To raise awareness on World Refugee Day, TV and radio spots will be broadcast in each region and articles will be published in local newspapers. Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi will make a statement to the media on World Refugee Day.

On 13 June, a special stamp will be issued on the theme "Return of Refugees" by Post and Telecommunication of Kosovo (PTK).

On 17 June, UNHCR will organise a press conference in Belgrade on achieving durable solutions for refugees in Serbia and Montenegro. On this occasion, the UNHCR World Refugee TV spot will be screened and the High Commissioner's statement will be given to press.

On 18 June, the opening ceremony of the exhibition, "Searching for durable solutions", will take place at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade. State Union and republican authorities, members of parliament, refugee associations, NGOs, journalists, members of the diplomatic community and representatives of civil society will attend. The exhibition will last two weeks.

On 20 June, a special programme on World Refugee Day will be broadcast on the national public TV channel. UNHCR World Refugee Day spot will also be broadcast on several TV channels in Serbia.

On 22 June, a roundtable on durable solutions will take place at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade.

On 20 June, UNHCR, in collaboration with NGOs, will organise an exhibition and a roundtable on refugee issues in Novi Sad. The UNHCR World Refugee Day TV spot will also be broadcast on the leading regional TV channel.

In Kraljevo, a World Refugee Day celebration will take place in the city's main square, with the participation of NGOs and local authorities.

In Gornji Milanovac, UNHCR will hold an exhibition of handicrafts by refugees at the local community centre. UNHCR will also distribute clothes to refugee children.

In Nis, World Refugee Day celebrations will take place in the pedestrian area, including a fair organised by NGOs, an exhibition of handicrafts by refugees, and performances by refugee bands. The same event will be organised in the centre of Smederevo.

In Podgorica, an exhibition on "Achieving durable solutions for refugees in Montenegro" will be held by UNHCR and its implementing partners at the Cultural Information Centre on 20 June.

UNHCR will also organise, in collaboration with its implementing partners, World Refugee Day outdoor celebrations in Podgorica, Berane and Bar.

The UNHCR World Refugee Day TV spot will be broadcast on four TV channels.