#UNCHR #Refugees - EU at #GlobalRefugeeForum

The European Union will be represented at the first Global Refugee Forum, taking place in Geneva from 16-18 December, by Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič, Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, and International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen. Co-hosted by the United Nations Refugee Agency and Switzerland, the forum will bring the international community together to showcase good practices in the field of refugee protection.

Today (16 December), Commissioner Várhelyi will participate at the spotlight session, organized by the European Commission, on the Syrian refugee crisis and the joint response in partnership with host countries, local and international organizations. On Wednesday, Commissioner Lenarčič will address the High Level Dialogue on Education and Commissioner Urpilainen will intervene at the closing session of the Global Refugee Forum.

The EU and its member states are major international donors to support refugees in countries hosting them. Between 2016-2019, the EU committed around €8.85 billion of its external funding in support to refugees and their host communities around the world, in particular in response to the Syria crisis, Horn of Africa, the Afghan and Venezuela regional situations and beyond. In 2019 alone, the EU has committed over €2.1bn to respond to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in the world. Thanks to EU resettlement schemes, more than 65,000 people in need of international protection were able to find safety in Europe since 2015.

UNHCR is co-hosting the forum together with Switzerland, and it is being co-convened by Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Germany, Pakistan, and Turkey. The aim of the Forum is to generate new approaches and long-term commitments from a variety of actors to help refugees and the communities in which they live. Worldwide, over 70 million people are displaced by war, conflict, and persecution. More than 25 million of them are refugees, having fled across international borders and unable to return to their homes.

“We are emerging from a decade of displacement during which refugee numbers have surged,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

“This week, at the first ever Global Refugee Forum, we must focus our efforts in the coming decade on building upon what we have learned and committing action to support refugees and the countries and communities hosting them. This Forum is an opportunity to attest our collective commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees and rally behind the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals of leaving no one behind.”

The Global Compact on Refugees paves the way for everyone to take responsibility and play a role, including all levels of government, the private sector, development agencies and financial institutions, civil society, faith groups, and refugees themselves.

The contributions made at the Forum are expected to include financial, technical, and material assistance; legal and policy changes to enable greater inclusion of refugees in society; resettlement places, and the safe return for refugees as part of solutions.

“We need more help like this,” said Joelle Hangi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who is one of the Forum’s refugee co-sponsors. “Already there are many examples of cooperation – but with refugee numbers rising, we need more people to give us their support, more governments, companies, and communities to share the responsibility of helping refugees. That is how we will regain our freedom and independence, and repay those who came to our aid.”

The three days of discussions, special events, and high-level dialogues in Geneva will focus on six key areas: arrangements for burden and responsibility sharing; education; jobs and livelihoods; energy and infrastructure; solutions; and protection capacity. There will be many opportunities for sharing a number of initiatives and good practices demonstrating how the Global Compact on Refugees can make a difference..

The Forum will also examine how humanitarian and development responses can complement one another. Additionally, in a sign of the increasingly important role of the private sector, more than 100 companies and foundations are attending and are set to make pledges around jobs, finance and other assistance.

The programme and further details about the Global Refugee Forum and related events are available here 

Photos and video footage from the Forum are available on Refugees Media.

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