UK Houses of Parliament Exhibition

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World Refugee Day 2022 was marked in Westminster with an exhibition of ‘Tears of Gold’, a series of refugee portraits by artist Hannah Rose Thomas.

‘Tears of Gold’ is an acclaimed series of portraits of women from across the world which profiles the stories, suffering and search for justice that define just a handful of those millions forced to flee their homes.

As part of her UK parliament exhibition, sponsored by UNHCR UK, the UN Refugee Agency, and Rehman Chishti MP, Hannah unveiled new portraits of female judges of Afghanistan and of Ukrainian refugees Maria and her mother Nadiia from Kyiv. 

Hannah said: "We must appeal for the dignified and humane treatment of all those living in and through displacement and who arrive here seeking sanctuary. There is an urgent need to keep the borders of our hearts open to those who are forced to flee conflict, persecution, and human rights abuses.”

"As Maria expresses beautifully: ‘It does not matter what nationality you are, what matters is what you are doing in this present moment. For humanity has no geography and kindness has no nationality’."

The exhibition was featured in The House and the UNHCR Spotlight for World Refugee Day.

The paintings were also displayed at the UK Government Ministerial on Freedom of Religion and Belief conference held in July 2022 and the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative conference in November 2022.