World Refugee Day

On June 19, 2022, The Fort hosted its first public event to celebrate World Refugee Day through an evening of activities organized by the Coalition for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CRSP). U.N. Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances member and former National Human Rights Commissioner of Thailand Angkhana Neelapaijit gave an opening speech on the significance of World Refugee Day and the Regional Refugee Coordinator for East Asia, Refugee and Migration Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok David Muehlke opened the photo exhibition “Beyond What the Eyes Can See,” a display of photos depicting the lives of refugees in Thailand. Other speakers included a Pakistani refugee, a Burmese refugee artist, and others. The Fort also provided space for members of the refugee community to sell traditional crafts and food boxes and provide henna paintings. More than 150 people attended the event, which also led to media coverage on the plight of refugees in Thailand.