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.