K 454: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025, as World Refugee Awareness Month in the State of New York

 Assembly Resolution No. 454 BY: M. of A. Rivera MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025, as World Refugee Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State and the world; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025, as World Refugee Awareness Month in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, June was first declared as World Refugee Awareness Month in 2001; since then, the month has been a time to acknowledge strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees who live around the globe; and WHEREAS, Refugee children and their families must deal with past traumatic experiences while integrating into a new and unfamiliar society; and WHEREAS, They must look for safety in an unknown culture, and ask for help in a nonnative language; these children and families have experienced war-related trauma and disruption, as well as resettlement, poverty, unemployment, stigmatization, and bias; and WHEREAS, According to the United Nations, every minute 24 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror; and WHEREAS, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in December of 1950 to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide; and WHEREAS, New York has historically ranked among the top locations for accepting refugees as per Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration data; and WHEREAS, Refugees enrich the communities that they settle in by starting businesses, building careers, purchasing homes and contributing to the economy; and WHEREAS, The Office of Refugee Resettlement at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reported that organizations tasked with resettling refugees within our communities have successfully resettled 27,465 refugees in New York from 2015 to 2024; these refugees have come from over 49 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq, Ukraine, and Syria; and WHEREAS, It is important to also pay tribute to the dedication of humanitarian workers both domestically and abroad who devote their lives to ensuring that vulnerable people can find a home; and WHEREAS, There continue to be individuals and families in need of refuge and the support of New York State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025, as World Refugee Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.