On 4 December 2000, the United Nations
General Assembly noted that 2001 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the
1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and that the Organization
of African Unity (OAU) had agreed to have International Refugee Day coincide
with Africa Refugee Day on 20 June. It was, therefore, decided that, as from
2001, 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day.