On the occasion of World Refugee Day this year, UNHCR, in cooperation with the Municipality of Ilidža, created a mural called ‘Welcome’, which symbolically represents the hospitality of the local community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, encountered by numerous refugees forced to leave their homes due to wars, persecution or violations human rights.
“We are glad that our municipality was chosen for painting the mural. The Municipality of Ilidža has been a place where refugees have been welcomed for many years. We want the refugees to feel good when they come to Ilidža and to be our fellow citizens,” said Sejda Topalović, assistant to the mayor of the Municipality of Ilidža.
UNHCR Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lucie Gagné, said that every year on World Refugee Day, which is celebrated on June 20, UNHCR organizes a series of events in several cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as around the world, to draw public attention to the problems faced by refugees, but also to express gratitude to the local communities for the hospitality they provide to people who were forced to leave their homes due to violence, war, persecution or human rights violations, UNHCR said.
“Currently, around 110 million people are displaced around the world. On this day, we recognize their plight and experience, at the same time paying tribute to their courage, their hopes and contribution to the host countries,” she said.
The mural in the Municipality of Ilidža was painted on the initiative of UNHCR and with the help of the Municipality of Ilidža in cooperation with students of the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo and refugees in BiH who have experience in painting murals, with the technical support of the Bosnian Women’s Initiative (BHWI), it is stated in an announcement.
