Celebrating Courage, Community and Solidarity During Refugee Week
This year’s theme for Refugee Week is Courage, therefore it is only right to commend the courage of those who are left with little choice but to leave their homes in search of peace and stability, often embarking on uncertain and dangerous journeys in the hope of building a safer future for themselves and their families. It takes immense courage to start again in a new country. To have to learn new languages, navigate unfamiliar systems, and rebuild a sense of belonging after experiencing displacement, loss, and trauma.
We must also commend the courage of those who stand alongside refugees in the face of adversity. To the individuals, communities, and organisations who challenge prejudice, extend compassion, and uphold the values of dignity, justice, and inclusion. During the past few weeks, refugees and people seeking asylum have been subjected to hostility and misinformation, and we applaud the courage shown across communities who refused to be silent and stood in solidarity in support of human rights for everyone.
As this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, it is especially poignant to reflect on the courage of those who established it in the aftermath of war and displacement. Their determination helped create a framework that has saved countless lives, protected fundamental rights, and enabled millions of refugees to find safety, rebuild their lives, and contribute to the communities that welcomed them. Seventy-five years on, that courage remains as vital as ever. Not just in our ability to respond to humanitarian crises, but also in our defence of the principles of protection, solidarity, and shared humanity that underpin the Convention itself.
During Refugee Week, our Migration Justice colleagues have been busy attending events across Northern Ireland to celebrate the courage, resilience, and contributions of refugees and those seeking sanctuary.
This year, these events have felt particularly important in the context of the misinformation and disinformation that has circulated across Northern Ireland following recent riots and protests. In times when harmful narratives can spread quickly, Refugee Week provides an opportunity to hear directly from people with lived experience, challenge misconceptions, and build a greater understanding of why people seek asylum and refuge. By creating spaces for conversation, learning, and connection, these events help to counter fear and division with facts, empathy, and shared humanity.
This week in review:
Supporting Access to Immigration Advice at the Big Sanctuary Fair
Our Migration Justice team were delighted to attend the Big Sanctuary Information Fair at 2 Royal Avenue on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. The team, alongside Law Centre Legal Executives, coordinated immigration legal advice clinics on both days and ran an information stall where we provided general advice and shared resources from our website.
Community Advice Session
Emily, Our Legal Advisor and, Nada, our Asylum and Refugee Advisor and Caseworker attended a Community Assistance Advice Session organised by Belfast City Hall to provide immigration advice to people affected by the racist disorder
Small Worlds: Conversations That Break Barriers
Róise (Policy and Research Officer) and Emily, Legal Executive for Migration Justice, were delighted to participate as table hosts for Small Worlds events in Belfast and Omagh. Small Worlds is an initiative of the Together Community Interest Company, in which members of the public are invited to sit down, café style, with table hosts from across the world. Behind statistics and stereotypes, there are people, and Small Worlds offers the space to connect and break barriers with those who have moved to Northern Ireland. Colleagues from Law Centre provided attendees with factual information about the asylum and refugee process.
Participants reflected positively on the workshop, highlighting its emotional and inspirational impact.
Refugee, Asylum and Immigration Training Delivered for Newry, Mourne and Down Council.
Our Community Engagement Officer, Niamh, enjoyed delivering training on refugee, asylum and immigration matters in Newcastle Centre. Attendees came from a range of statutory and voluntary services supporting new communities across South Down. Thanks to Newry, Mourne and Down Council for the invitation.
Wear Our Courage: Stories from the Youth Voice Network
Róise, our Policy and Research Officer, along with Shimous, our work experience student, attended Barnardo’s Ubuntu Youth Voice Network project, ‘Wear our Courage’ event at Stormont. Members of the Youth Voice Network displayed creative T-shirts they designed, accompanied by written pieces that depicted their stories. Some of the young people also spoke poignantly at the event about what ‘Courage’, the theme of this year’s Refugee Week, means to them.
From the Field to Local Practice: “Refugee Status Determination in a World of Disorder”
As part of Refugee Week, Law Centre NI, in conjunction with the Human Rights Centre at Queen’s University Belfast, hosted a public lecture featuring immigration solicitor Peter Fitzmaurice. Peter shared reflections from over two decades of experience working in refugee protection, human rights, and immigration law across a range of complex and challenging humanitarian contexts.
The event continued with a panel discussion bringing together Professor Colin Harvey, Khaled Zalitou, and was facilitated by Dr Lauren Dempster, who is also a Fellow of the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice.
Read more here
Courage in Every Brushstroke
LCNI attended and hosted a face-painting table at the Great Refugee Week Picnic 2026, helping to create a warm and inclusive space for families and attendees throughout the event. Our table was a popular attraction, with over 140 children having their faces painted with colourful (and often creative) designs while engaging in a broader celebration of community, resilience, and cultural diversity. The picnic brought together a wide range of local organisations and residents for a shared day of food, music, and activities, highlighting the importance of welcome and connection within the community.
Belfast City Hall illuminated red to celebrate World Refugee Day on Saturday 20th June
Belfast City Hall was illuminated in red to mark World Refugee Day as a gesture of solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers. This illumination recognises the resilience, contributions, and courage of displaced communities around the world. By illuminating one of the city’s most prominent civic buildings, Belfast joined a global effort to raise awareness of forced displacement and to promote values of inclusion, compassion, and support for those seeking safety.
Thank you
Huge thanks to all who invited us to participate this week, and to everyone who helped make the events such a valuable opportunity for learning, connection, and collaboration. Refugee Week also serves as a reminder that everyone has a role to play in building welcoming and inclusive communities. We are grateful to the organisations, community groups, and individuals who joined us and participated in our events across the region, helping to foster understanding, challenge misconceptions, and celebrate the richness that refugee communities bring to Northern Ireland.