#global compact on refugees

[humansolidarityday]

Cities of solidarity in the Americas.

The initiative has developed a aimed to provide diagnostics and prioritization of public policy issues connected to the inclusion of the people UNHCR.

Let's highlight the role of cities in responding to refugees.

[universalhealthcoverageday]

Universal Health Coverage and Health Services for Displaced Populations

This side event will consist of a high-level session followed by a panel discussion bringing together different stakeholders. Universal health coverage and health services provided to displaced populations will be the focus. As a reflection of recently adopted Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), as well as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), refugees' access to quality health services should be mainstreamed in national and international contexts. The discussion will feed into the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) High-Level Meeting.

Speakers will present innovative models in extending health coverage to displaced populations in the context of protracted crisis situations. As such, this session will reflect on the commitment of the countries and partners to provide UHC in the context of displacement. It will facilitate understanding about the ways in which health care for refugees is organized and delivered in receiving countries, how local health systems are adapted systematically so that refugees face fewer financial, administrative, linguistic and cultural barriers in accessing quality health services. Also the role of health diplomacy in improvement of health and well-being of refugees and therefore creation of alliances for contributing to peace will be explored in detail during the session.

[deblala]

In Sept 2016 the General Assembly decided, through the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees & Migrants, to develop a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration | SGT Report

https://www.sgtreport.com/2024/07/in-sept-2016-the-general-assembly-decided-through-the-adoption-of-the-new-york-declaration-for-refugees-migrants-to-develop-a-global-compact-for-safe-orderly-and-regular-migration/

[migrantsday]

(4th meeting) International Dialogue on Migration 2024.

"Facilitating Regular Pathways to a Better Future: Harnessing the Power of Migration" is the the of the International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) 2024 (organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Watch the (4th meeting) International Dialogue on Migration 2024!

United Nations Headquarters

IOM - UN Migration; IOM - UN Migration in West and Central Africa, IOM Asia-Pacific, IOM Central Asia, IOM Arabic - المنظمة الدولية للهجرة, UN Global Compact for Migration, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency,

UN Web TV

[thxnews]

U.S. Leads Global Refugee Support

In a significant move at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the United States has announced 26 unique commitments, demonstrating its leadership in addressing the needs of refugees and host communities amid historic levels of global displacement. These commitments, part of eight multi-stakeholder pledges, reflect the U.S.’s dedication to strengthening global refugee resettlement opportunities and encouraging innovative responses to the challenges faced by refugees and their host communities.  

A Growing Crisis: The Need for Global Action

Since the consultations for the Global Compact on Refugees began in 2016, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide has surged to over 130 million. This dramatic increase signals an urgent need for the international community to broaden its support base for refugees. The United States, recognizing this urgency, reaffirms its commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees, underscoring a steadfast dedication to championing refugee protection and solutions.   Pioneering Economic Inclusion and Social Protection One of the U.S.'s significant pledges involves joining the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSI), aiming to reach two million households by 2027. This initiative will see U.S. diplomatic and financial support bolstering efforts in countries like Bangladesh, Colombia, and Kenya. Further, the U.S. is committed to increasing private sector engagement to mobilize investment and support economic inclusion in refugee-hosting areas, partnering with organizations like the International Finance Corporation – UNHCR Joint Initiative, the World Economic Forum’s Humanitarian Resilience Investing Call to Action, and the Refugee Investment Network.   Gender Equality and Combating Gender-Based Violence A crucial aspect of the U.S. pledges is the prioritization of gender-based violence prevention and response across global humanitarian efforts. Initiatives like the Safe from the Start ReVisioned aim to increase the representation and leadership of women and girls in decision-making structures, particularly in food-insecure environments. The U.S. is also advocating for greater inclusion of refugee-hosting states within the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies.   Resettlement: Expanding Opportunities and Access President Biden's commitment to admitting up to 125,000 refugees annually into the United States marks a significant pledge toward increasing global resettlement opportunities. The U.S. is poised to meet this ambitious goal, thanks to efforts in rebuilding the capacity of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Additionally, the U.S. will chair and regularly convene the Resettlement Diplomacy Network, focusing on strategic and diplomatic engagement to expand access to global refugee resettlement.   Community Sponsorship and Skills-Based Pathways The U.S. also commits to expanding private sponsorship through initiatives like the Welcome Corps, launched in January 2023. This program aims to engage civil society organizations and local communities in welcoming refugees, with a target of supporting 10,000 refugees in Fiscal Year 2024. Moreover, the Welcome Corps at Work and Welcome Corps on Campus are specialized programs focusing on labor mobility and higher education for refugees.   Special Focus on the Rohingya Crisis Recognizing the plight of the Rohingya, the U.S. pledges to continue expanding the number of Rohingya resettled through the USRAP in Fiscal Year 2024. The U.S. will use its experience and international positions to encourage other countries to expand or create new third-country solutions for Rohingya refugees. Additionally, efforts will be made to expand skills training and support for Rohingya refugees and host communities.   Ending Statelessness: A Global Commitment In a bid to address the challenge of statelessness, the U.S. has pledged to become a member of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness. This move involves advocating for the improvement of statelessness data and the inclusion of stateless persons in statistics, supporting international recommendations and initiatives in this area.   Inclusive Education: A Path Forward The U.S. is advocating for the inclusion of refugees in national education systems and incorporating refugees into its government education strategy. This effort includes advocating for refugee inclusion in multilateral engagements like the Global Partnership for Education and Education Cannot Wait. The political commitments by the United States at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum are a testament to the country's resolve in addressing the global refugee crisis. While these pledges are not legally binding, they represent a significant moral and strategic commitment by the U.S. to lead in providing support and solutions for refugees and host communities worldwide. As the world grapples with increasing displacement, the U.S.'s role in shaping a more inclusive and supportive global response is more crucial than ever.   Sources: THX News & US Department of State. Read the full article

[droliverghitea]

The History and Design of Venice’s Canals

Venice, a "floating city" in northwestern Italy that evokes history and grandeur, was constructed on a swampland. The city spans 118 swampy islands within the Venetian Lagoon and sits at the Adriatic Sea's head. About 150 canals run through the city, with bridges and walkways connecting various neighborhoods built on the various islands. Preeminent among these is The Grand Canal, which has the Basilica of St. Mary and Doge's Palace overlooking it.

Venice's original marshy islands had natural water channels separating them, which were used for catching fish and shellfish. Over the years, they were made wider and deeper. This allowed boats to navigate, and the lagoon was gradually drained, with a major settlement built in the 5th century AD.

Interestingly, the island of Torcello, situated on an island at the lagoon's northern end, was the original hub of commerce. Now largely uninhabited, with less than 20 residents, it was, in Venice's early years, a bustling port of 20,000 that included piers, fisheries, and churches.

The impetus of Venice's rapid expansion was barbarian conquerors who decimated much of northern Italy in 402, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Many former city dwellers moved into existing fishing communities as refugees. They envisioned the construction of a new city officially inaugurated in 421 AD.

In erecting this city, dug-out canals were solidified by lining them with thousands of pilings made from water-resistant wood such as alder, driven through mud and sand layers into a harder clay stratum beneath. On top of the pilings, wooden platforms with pilings were constructed and reinforced with stone, and it is on such foundations that Venice's classic buildings were erected.

Over time, Venice grew to encompass an intricate network of canals that required importing large quantities of wood from forested locations spanning modern-day Slovenia, Montenegro, and Croatia. These wood foundations have lived centuries largely intact because they are submerged in water lacking oxygen. The anaerobic conditions do not allow for the multiplying of microorganisms that would bore into the wood and cause it to decay over time. In addition, the saltwater nature of the marsh has ensured that minerals such as salt seep deep into the wood, creating a nearly stone-like hard material.

Relatively shallow, the depths of Venice's canals have to do with location, dredging work, and tide level and vary widely. The Canale Della Giudecca is the deepest, between 40 to 55 feet. The Grand Canal is around 16 feet in depth, while most tributary canals have depths of between five and seven feet, with the tide causing ebbs and flows of as much as three feet. While the canals around the city sometimes freeze over, this is extremely rare due to a temperate climate and the brackishness of the water. The last canal freezing occurred in 2012, with the previous event dating back to 1929.

One major trend in Venice over the centuries has been sinking, with the city's weight compacting the mud and dirt underneath it. This is accelerated by periodic flooding, which relates to high tide movements known as acqua alta, and much expenditure is dedicated to cleaning the canals. A combination of manual debris removal and mechanical dredging eliminates obstructions, enabling clear and free navigation and alleviating flooding concerns. In addition, wave action and erosion have compromised some canal walls over time, which are repaired using steel and concrete materials. Regulating the frequency, size, and speed of boats that ply the water also helps minimize canal deterioration and ensure that the world's most unique city remains afloat.

Unfortunately, this may not be enough: with the city having sunk nine inches in the past 100 years alone, scientists predict that, given global warming trends, the entire Adriatic coastline, including Venice, may be covered in water within a century.

[maximumsupportservices]

Interpret and Translate in Brisbane, Australia

All Queensland Government agencies must offer qualified interpreting services for customers who cannot communicate in English. These services are provided free of charge and can be booked through your local Interpreter Service Coordinator.

Interpreting and translating are different skills, but both require intercultural competency. To become a professional translator or interpreter, you will need to have the right qualifications and training. To know more about Interpret and Translate, visit the Maximum Support Services website or call 1300983885.

The city of Brisbane is a growing and exciting place to live. Once dismissed by many as a country town, it has become a cosmopolitan center of multiple cultures and is home to an impressive nightlife scene. It is also one of Australia’s most affordable cities, making it a great choice for young professionals looking to start their careers in a lively environment.

The Cross River Rail project is a large-scale infrastructure project that will bring Brisbane’s first subway to life. Engineers use a digital twin to guide their design and construction processes. The system combines all data on the tunnels and stations, married to a realistic model of the city above them. A virtual reality program turns the twin into a platform to walk through designs and communicate with team members.

The City of Brisbane is working to grow its economy beyond mining and into clean energy, tourism, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Its population is expected to grow by more than 200,000 people over the next decade. With 1600 people moving to southeast Queensland each week, this will put major pressure on local infrastructure and housing.

The city is home to a wide range of cultures, and it is a friendly place to live for international students. It has beautiful beaches, a warm climate, and a cosmopolitan culture. In addition, the city’s residents are known for their friendliness. This is reflected in its high scores on the Global Student Mix and Desirability indicators.

Brisbane’s multiculturalism is supported by a number of initiatives and programs. These include the Lord Mayor’s Refugee Welcome Ceremony, Multicultural Queensland Month, and Community Support Programs. The city also has a number of libraries that offer services and resources in different languages.

The city also hosts a variety of festivals and events. These events celebrate the diverse culture of Brisbane and its citizens. Some examples include the Brisbane Chinese Cultural Festival, Buddha Birth Day Festival, Eidfest, and the Nowruz Persian New Year Festival. These events help to strengthen community connections and promote the city’s diversity. They also contribute to a sense of belonging for migrants and refugees.

Brisbane is a vibrant, multicultural city in Queensland, Australia. It is a young and welcoming place with a laid-back attitude and cosmopolitan urban lifestyle. The subtropical climate allows residents to enjoy al fresco dining and a range of outdoor activities. Weekend getaways are also a short drive away, including coastal and rural escapes.

Despite a relatively small population, Taiwanese migrants in Brisbane have a close-knit community with many restaurants, businesses and churches. This tight-knit network provides social support, which buffers psychological stress and contributes to life satisfaction.

With more than 280 days of sunshine, the River City is a great destination for outdoor recreation. There are plenty of parks and gardens, and you can get around easily on foot or by bus, train or green cabs. The City Botanic Gardens at Kangaroo Point offers scenic water views, while the cliffs of Mount Coot-tha offer rock climbing and abseiling opportunities. The Brisbane CBD is compact and pedestrian-friendly, with a network of paths and walkways.

Brisbane is one of Australia’s fastest growing cities, with a thriving economy and a range of attractive professional opportunities. Its beautiful natural landscapes and affluent residents attract a wide variety of businesses in the finance, technology, property, and healthcare sectors. Its thriving economy is supported by a stable legal and regulatory framework, and close proximity to key Asian export markets.

The city is well-connected by public transport and is ideal for walking. Buses, trains and green cabs are readily available. Alternatively, you can hire a bicycle from a rental agency. For a unique urban adventure, try paddling down the river on a kayak or exploring the man-made Streets Beach, where repurposed shipping containers have been converted into bars, eateries, and shops.

Brisbane locals are sticklers for punctuality, so be sure to arrive at meetings on time. They also value the ability to keep business conversations brief and to the point. You can connect with a local through Brisbane Greeters, who will work with you to create a personalized tour of the city. To know more about Interpret and Translate, visit the Maximum Support Services website or call 1300983885.

[ohioprelawland]

Filling the Gap In Immigration Law As The Global Climate Crisis Pursues And Displacement Rises

By Amandia Hatija, The Ohio State University, Class of 2023

July 26, 2023

As the world deals with the costs that have come along with the rise of the global climate crisis, a new sphere of challenges has opened up along with it. A stark increase in migrants seeking refuge due to the effects of climate change and increase in environmental disasters can be seen globally, with no sturdy legal precedents for their existence. Immigration law is ever changing and is applied differently in various areas of the world, but one thing is true regardless of location; a gap exists in the size of climate-induced migrants and will continue to grow until it is fully addressed. This article will go into the effects of that gap and the increasing need for further protection of these refugees as our global climate crisis escalates.

Climate-induced migration refers to the displacement of peoples due to climate or geophysical disasters, such as a drought, flood, tsunami, volcanic eruptions, etc. More often than not, the communities that are most impacted from these disasters have the least amount of resources accessible to them. The further destruction of their homes and/or land forces them to migrate to other areas, with an estimated 20 million people displaced each year, according to the UN Refugee Agency [1]. While it is impossible to track down the one exact reason why a person has decided to migrate, estimates of migration due to climate change are based on possible triggers from climatic disasters and the various factors pushing the individuals into migration.

Climate refugees are unique in their reason for migration as well as their legal protection in the process. Despite the fact that climatic disasters produce three times the amount of displacement than conflict, there is limited legal standing for their migration/refugee status, unlike the refugees fleeing from conflict [1]. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre estimates that 283.4 millions people globally have been displaced due to climate disasters, all between 2008 to 2020 [2]. However, despite the high volume of climate-induced migration to date, no refugee has been granted asylum based on their claims of displacement due to climate change, even in the most extreme of cases [3]. The 1951 Refugee Convention defined the boundaries of a refugee label along with states’ legal obligation to protect them, but failed to recognize climate change as a valid displacement for individuals claiming refuge. Not only do these individuals have to face harsh living conditions with often no outside resources or help, and most likely have mustered all of their savings to allow them to migrate, they remain unprotected and discarded as refugees. They aren’t even allowed access to the barely tolerable refugee camps, and are not protected against any legal retaliation for their migration [4]. The world has changed severely since 1951, and requires more expansive definitions and protections of refugees, one’s that should include climate-induced migrants.

While climate migrants do have rights, they’re basic human rights which exist under the international human rights law, and do not pertain to their status as a refugee or any further protections [6]. The GCM, Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, recognizes climate change as a persistent factor in migration and even provides a framework for how governments could handle climate-induced migration, but it doesn’t express any legal duties or protections for the migrants themselves [7]. While we could sit and point fingers at which country’s have had the most contributions to the pollution accelerating the global climate crisis, that doesn’t change anything for the individuals currently being affected by it. No country currently has any legal obligation to adhere to migrants seeking refuge on the basis of climate change/disasters, as that would include some form of accepting responsibility to the global rise in climate change. Accepting any form of responsibility would force a country to establish a link between climatic disasters and displacement of people seeking refuge, and would most likely lead to that country putting forth more resources than they’d like on the issue. Cross-border migration has been an issue for most prominent countries in how they decide to go about it, and climate-induced migration doesn’t make it any easier. Numerous factors must be considered before granting asylum to these migrants, from food security to housing, education, and healthcare- issues that exist for current citizens let alone this new wave of migrants.

The biggest argument surrounding climate-induced migration is whether they should be considered refugees, and what kind of, if any, protections should these individuals have regardless of their title. Deeming climate-induced migrants as a special category of refugee would set up a plethora of vulnerabilities, such as the exclusion of internal migration within the legal framework of climate-induced migrants.  The Urban Institute has estimated that around 1.6 million Americans were displaced by a climatic disaster in just 2021, according to their research on climate migration [5]. The displacement led these individuals to other areas of the state or to other states overall, forcing them to uproot their lives with often little resources to create a new home for themselves. Therefore, these individuals would be excluded from the legal framework of climate migration, which would be against what this work is being done for. On the other hand, while it may be more difficult to pinpoint a migration merely due to a climatic disaster, it wouldn’t be even near impossible, and can be done within the correct framework. Individuals fleeing climatic disaster aren’t leaving their current lives because they randomly felt like it one day, but have been forced out of their homes and are trying to find relief in a new community. Even refugees seeking asylum from violent conflict have been persecuted in their journey and threaten their livelihood just to attempt sanctuary. For climate refugees, this journey is even more treacherous and filled with unknowns of how their future might look, as they aren’t guaranteed safety along any step of the way.

In order to move forward with a new legal framework for this booming form of migration, a baseline of human rights must be set and abided by, and then specified for each region accordingly. Some countries, such as the US, may see climate-induced migration within their country as well as those crossing borders to seek asylum in the states. The framework within the US must be built to adhere to both groups, while not excluding either one of them and recognizing them both as part of a similar group and creating a space for them in the legal system. This trend of climate migration is only going up, and must be addressed before it becomes a complete disaster with no clear path forward. For now, it is essential to focus on where exactly the gaps lie within the legal framework and close it, and then work on more long term solutions to attempt to slow down our global climate change crisis and therefore the rate of climate-induced migration.

Climate-induced migration poses an urgent but complex obstacle for immigration law, especially as we start to see more severe effects of the global climate crisis. While the crisis grows, as does the need for a legal framework for these migrants and a creation of their status within global immigration laws and statutes. These individuals are amongst some of the most vulnerable, but have no protections as they are not legally recognized by any official governing body. By encouraging global cooperation, there is a chance for recognition for these individuals and the inclusion of legal duties and protections for them, which would bring us one step closer to fighting against the global impacts of the climate crisis.

______________________________________________________________

[1] “Climate Change and Migration.” Giving Compass, 20 Mar. 2023, givingcompass.org/climate-change-migration?gclid=Cj0KCQjwn_OlBhDhARIsAG2y6zPMUdemH4_ufbG9CfHVQAfnzt2ipXYRxT4ps0nYlR8DL_TcYBZFvMcaAhj0EALw_wcB.

[2] Ghosh, R.C., Orchiston, C. A systematic review of climate migration research: gaps in existing literature. SN Soc Sci 2, 47 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00341-8

[3] “Preparing for a World of Climate Migrants.” Giving Compass, 29 Mar. 2021, givingcompass.org/article/preparing-for-a-world-of-climate-migrants.

[4] Sahra, Afrikaan (2022) "Climate Refugees Are Refugees and Deserve UN Recognition.," SUURJ: Seattle University Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 6. https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/suurj/vol6/iss1/8

[5]Rodriguez-Delgado, Cresencio. “California’s ‘climate Migrants’ and the Difficulty of Finding a New Home.” PBS, 24 Aug. 2022, www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/as-fires-rip-through-california-and-the-west-some-find-it-hard-to-stay-in-their-communities.

[6]“Climate Change Is Fueling Migration. Do Climate Migrants Have Legal Protections?” Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org/in-brief/climate-change-fueling-migration-do-climate-migrants-have-legal-protections.

[7]“Climate Change Is Fueling Migration. Do Climate Migrants Have Legal Protections?” Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org/in-brief/climate-change-fueling-migration-do-climate-migrants-have-legal-protections. Accessed 25 July 2023.

[srother]

Assessment and Outlook: #Migrant Civil Society and Global #Migration Governance after the 1st International Migration Review Forum and in the 2024 #GFMD process

I have contributed a blogpost to the ASILE Forum on The Partnership Approaches in the UN Global Compacts on Refugees and and Migration – assessing the space for migrant civil society and other stakeholders in last years IMRF and the follow-up, including the next GFMND scheduled for January 2024 in Geneva. It is an ongoing struggle – hence I chose the title Sisyphus keeps on rolling. You can find…

[afceuganda]

Assistant Education Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Assistant Education Officer will support the roll-out of Refugee Education 2030, the UNHCR Refugee Education Strategy, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), which calls on States and relevant Stakeholders to contribute resources and expertise, to expand and enhance the quality and inclusiveness of national education systems, to…

[in-sightpublishing]

Consensus, Refugees, and Migrants

Consensus, Refugees, and Migrants

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal) Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2019/01/25 In terms of the documents within the international community, one of the more important, and recent, documents comes in the form of the United Nations Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration that started in July 13, 2018 under the auspices of the United Nations…

[humansolidarityday]

Strengthening social cohesion and inclusion.

The project aims to strengthen the social cohesion of children under temporary and international protection and children of the host community through sports, and to identify children at risk through activities to be conducted under the Project and refer them to the relevant institutions.

Let's strengthen social cohesion and inclusion through sports among refugees and Turkish youth

[rightsinexile]

Kenya: Global Compact on Refugees must be quickly anchored in national policy

This opinion piece was written by Victor Nyamori, Amnesty International’s Refugee Coordinator for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes. The piece was originally printed by Amnesty International on 24 December 2018 and is reprinted here with permission.

The endorsement of the Global Compact on Refugees at the United Nations General Assembly on 17 December will not improve the lives of refugees in Kenya, based on the government’s record on the rights of people fleeing conflict and persecution, unless it turns rhetoric into action.

Kenya is renowned for its eagerness to support, draft and sign instruments aimed at protecting the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers, but sadly not for implementing them.

It is now more than 50 years since Kenya ratified the UN Convention on Refugees, which contains the international principles and standards for protecting refugees. However, Kenyan authorities have violated many of these principles, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they would be at real risk of serious human rights violations.

In 2016, for example, Kenyan authorities arrested and deported a registered South Sudanese refugee, James Gatdet, spokesperson for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army – In Opposition (SPLA-IO), despite warnings that his life would be in danger in South Sudan. Gatdet was arrested on arrival in Juba and sentenced to death by hanging. He was saved from the hangman’s noose as a result of international pressure.

Kenya also ratified the African Union Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa in 1993. As a result, thousands of Somalis fleeing war and famine have found refuge in Kenya, but at a high price. They are disproportionately targeted in counter-terror operations and face arbitrary arrest, harassment, extortion, ill-treatment, forcible relocation within Kenya, and even deportation.

Nationally, the Kenya Refugee Act 2006, which provides guidelines for the management of refugees, has been implemented in a piecemeal, halting fashion. The country’s refugee camps were only formally recognised by the government in 2014, while the members of the Refugee Appeal Board, the body responsible for hearing and deciding appeals on refugee status decisions, were only appointed in 2015. The Refugee Advisory Committee, tasked with advising and assisting the Commissioner of refugees on matters related to recognition of refugees is yet to be constituted.

The government has also over the years made knee-jerk amendments to domestic refugee law, threatening the wellbeing of refugees. In 2014, the government set a ceiling of 150,000 for Somali refugees permitted in the country, despite already hosting more than 550,000 registered individuals. In 2016, the government disbanded the Department of Refugee Affairs and directed that all Somali refugees be repatriated and the Dadaab refugee camp closed. Thankfully, in February 2017 the High Court of Kenya overturned both decisions for being unconstitutional and in contravention of the country’s international obligations.

A month later, Kenya committed to continue providing asylum to Somali refugees by signing the ‘Nairobi Declaration’ on durable solutions for Somali refugees. However, Kenya has stubbornly refused to register incoming Somali refugees, of whom there are now estimated to be over 12,000 at Dadaab.

Without any documentation, these refugees constantly face police harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, and the threat of deportation for being in the country ‘illegally’. Hardly two days pass without Amnesty International receiving calls for help from arrested Somali refugees.

When Amnesty International tried to establish who was responsible for registration of refugees at the Ministry of Interior, we were sent on a wild goose chase from directorate to directorate - each pointing at the other.

So now comes the Global Compact on Refugees: a process aiming to better organize the international response to refugee arrivals by easing pressure on host countries, enhancing self-reliance among people on the move, expanding access to resettlement and improving conditions in countries of origin for safe and dignified returns.

The world is faced with an unprecedented number of people on the move, 25.4 million of whom were recorded as refugees by December 2017. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 85 percent of refugees are hosted by developing countries.

The Global Compact on Refugees comes hot in the heels of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) in 2016. This called for an end to confining people in camps and integrating them into society by empowering them to contribute to their new communities and to secure their own futures in dignity. Both the Compact and the CRRF aim to bring in refugees from the fringes of society to enable them to benefit from national education, health and employment opportunities. They also aim to improve conditions in refugees’ countries of origin for return in safety and dignity.

Kenya’s Turkana County, which also hosts Kakuma Refugee Camp, provides a glimmer of hope. The county is piloting the Kalobeyei integrated settlement, which hosts both refugees and the local community. Refugees are also working with NGOs to make a living from their skills.

However, these budding positive initiatives will face severe challenges unless they are grounded in government policy. Kenya must now anchor all its international refugee commitments in policy. The adoption of the Global Compact for Refugees must usher in a change of attitude towards refugees; hosting refugees must be seen as an opportunity rather than a burden.

[internationaldayoffamilies]

Migration policies should include access to healthcare, especially in cases of sexual violence and violence against women.

In September 2016, States came together to sign the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (henceforth the New York Declaration). The New York Declaration reiterated commitments to protect human rights, regardless of migration status, and to share responsibility for rescuing, receiving and hosting refugees and migrants. It contains strong commitments to ensuring that migration policies are gender-responsive and to address the rights of women and girls. In particular, it recognized the right to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, the imperative to combat violence against women, including sexual violence, and the need to tackle multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. After the New York Declaration, UN Member States and other stakeholders, including civil society organizations, began consultations and negotiations for two global compacts: the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR). Both were adopted by a majority of UN Member States in December 2018. The Declaration and the two Compacts come at a time when the issue of migration has risen to the top of political agendas in many countries and when migrants have often become scapegoats for social and economic dislocation and crisis. These agreements signal an important commitment to multilateralism: to countries working together on an issue that requires regional and global cooperation. By reiterating and reaffirming the existing UN framework of human rights obligations, the Compacts have provided much-needed new impetus for implementation. With respect to enabling families to live together, the GCM commits to adapting pathways for regular migration that “uphold the right to family life,” to facilitate procedures for family reunification of migrants of all skill levels and, in the case of unaccompanied and separated children, to establish “specialized procedures for their identification, referral, care and family reunification.” However, family reunification remains subject to requirements, such as those relating to “income, language proficiency, length of stay, work authorization, and access to social security and services,” which will continue to discriminate against some groups of women and families. The GCR also contains a commitment to facilitate procedures and referral pathways for family reunification of refugees. The disproportionate exposure to violence faced by women and girls in migration and refugee processes is recognized in both Compacts. The GCM, for instance, states that migrants have the right to “the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” and that migration policies should include access to healthcare, especially in cases of sexual violence and violence against women. The Compacts do not refer to sexual and reproductive health services explicitly, but the CESCR has emphasized that such services are an integral part of States’ obligation vis-à-vis the right to health.

By making ‘gender-responsive’ migration governance a guiding principle of both the GCM and the GCR, Member States have committed to ensuring that policies, laws, programmes and services promote gender equality and women’s rights. Gender-responsive policy implementation will require recognizing the multiple roles women have in public and family life, the diversity of families in which women live and the full range of women’s rights. Involving migrant and refugee women in policy-making and the design and delivery of services to support them and their families is an important way to ensure their needs are met.

[migrantsday]

Human mobility is a defining feature of our world today.

Exactly 25 years ago, we adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

At the time, the number of international migrants stood at 153 million.

Today, when we mark the International Migrant Day that number has reached 244 million -- a 60 per cent increase.

This figure will continue to rise.  It will be fuelled by economic, demographic and environmental disparities.  It will be spurred by globalizing financial, labour and services markets.  And it will be sparked by humanity’s quest for freedom from fear and want and for a life of dignity for all. 

Millions of people benefit from remittances sent home by migrants. In 2014, remittances to developing countries amounted to $400 billion, dwarfing official development assistance by far. 

As the Secretary-General emphasized at yesterday’s Security Council meeting, we must ensure that measures to counter financing of terrorism do not drive up costs of sending remittances or drive remittances underground.

We are in the midst of the largest exodus of people since World War II fleeing their homes for reasons of conflict and destitute of life. 

This is a day to recognize the positive and powerful contributions migrants and refugees bring to both host and home communities.

Yet, the many stories of their resilience, strength and heroism are too often eclipsed by xenophobia and pervasive anti-migrant sentiments. This negative narrative, driven by the fear of change and fear of the unknown, must be replaced by a positive narrative, driven by the challenge of interdependence and international solidarity.

That’s where the High Representative Al-Nasser comes. I think he’s never been needed more than today. We have to shift to a new positive narrative, this is a huge challenge.

Migrants and refugees must not be victimized and made into scapegoats. 

Migration must be safe, orderly and regular. Proactive, transparent and evidence-based migration policies are essential for greater mobility and for creative diversity which we need in today’s society.

We should remember that those who commit acts of terror want us to be scared. If we fall in this trap, they would succeed.

This is the commitment world leaders made in adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  Cross-border mobility has now been accepted as a feature of sustainable development. 

Sustainability also requires us to address the scourge of irregular migration, by fighting migrant smuggling and human trafficking.  The loss of migrant lives caused by smuggling and trafficking networks is unacceptable.

We need to take greater responsibility for protecting the lives of many thousands of migrants – men, women and children – who are compelled to undertake dangerous and sometimes fatal journeys.  Those forced to flee should never be denied safe haven or rescue.  Migrants, as all people, deserve protection and empathy.

The world needs to aim for a new global compact on human mobility.

A compact that is rooted in coherent, comprehensive and rights-based responses.

A compact that reduces the human and financial costs of migration.

A compact that prevents and goes to the roots of finding solutions for forced displacement.

A compact that makes migration a vital part of sustainable development.

This global approach must be built on cooperation among countries of origin, countries of transit and countries of destination, on responsibility sharing, and on the full respect for human rights.

I am pleased that we now have a roadmap – articulated at a special event convened by the Secretary-General last September, and during events organized by the President of the General Assembly last month.

Next year, we plan a number of migration and refugee related events, culminating in a High-level meeting on 19 September on addressing large movements of migrants and refugees.

Let me conclude by paying tribute to the tireless work of UN colleagues, of IOM and in particular my good friend Bill Swing, of delegates from Member States, and, last but not least, of our friends from civil society who are with us today and around the world working on changing the narrative to appositive one.

Next year, your support will be needed more than ever for all the migrants and refugees who have never needed us more.

But before that, I wish you all restful holidays so that we can go to work together strengthened and inspired by the challenges ahead.

Thank you.

Statement by Mr. Jan Eliasson, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, at the Interactive panel discussion on the occasion of International Migrants Day 2015, hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

[thxnews]

UK's Humanitarian Commitment: Global Displacement Support

  Expressing Condolences and Solidarity

At the 74th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee, the United Kingdom's Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, delivered a heartfelt message of sympathy for those affected by recent disasters and unwavering support for humanitarian efforts worldwide. In a comprehensive address, she emphasized the UK humanitarian commitment to tackling global displacement crises, providing assistance, and supporting international peace efforts.   Condolences and Support for Israel The UK opened its statement by extending its deepest sympathies to the victims of the devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan and the heinous terrorist acts in Israel. Ambassador French reiterated the UK's unflinching support for the State of Israel while unequivocally condemning Hamas for its acts of terrorism.   Rising Global Forced Displacement Ambassador French acknowledged the mounting crises, stressing that the Middle East conflict was a perilous part of an expanding tapestry of worldwide troubles. Notably, the number of forcibly displaced individuals has exceeded 110 million, further escalating the urgency of humanitarian needs.  

Commitment to Global Aid

To address these pressing needs, the UK pledged to allocate £1 billion globally in 2024-2025. Furthermore, they reaffirmed their continuous, unrestricted funding in 2023 and called on others to contribute flexibly.   Appreciation for UNHCR The UK expressed profound gratitude for the UNHCR's invaluable work and, in addition, applauded the organization's ongoing Business Transformation efforts aimed at enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness.   Acknowledgment of Host Nations Ambassador French recognized the generosity and leadership of host nations and communities offering sanctuary to forcibly displaced people, particularly in Sudan, where a continuing crisis has displaced over 1.1 million people, accompanied by a rising civilian death toll.   Commitment to Conflict Resolution The UK pledged to relentlessly pursue diplomatic means to secure a permanent ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian access, and foster a meaningful peace process.   Support for Ukraine In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UK has provided £347 million in humanitarian assistance and welcomed 186,600 Ukrainian refugees as of September 25th. Furthermore, the UK reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to aiding Ukraine in regaining its territory and achieving lasting peace.   Global Refugee Solidarity The UK affirmed its commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees as the key strategy for burden- and responsibility-sharing, emphasizing its vital role in modernizing international protection. The UK also supported the inclusion and protection of vulnerable groups, including women, girls, the LGBT+ community, and individuals with disabilities.   Future Pledges at Global Refugee Forum The Global Refugee Forum was highlighted as an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to the Global Compact. Additionally, the UK eagerly anticipates announcing its pledges at the upcoming Forum in December.   Addressing Statelessness The UK aligned itself with the Group of Friends on Statelessness, acknowledging the 10 million stateless individuals worldwide, including two million Rohingya refugees. The UK's substantial financial support to the response in Bangladesh and Rakhine State was noted, although the situation remains dire.   Long-Term Solution for Rohingya The UK reiterated its commitment to supporting Rohingya refugees in the region until safe, voluntary, and dignified returns to Rakhine State become feasible.   Gender Equality and Statelessness On International Day of the Girl, Ambassador French emphasized that statelessness is a gender equality issue, with 24 countries still not allowing women to pass on their citizenship equally. In a comprehensive and empathetic statement, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador made it clear that the United Kingdom stands resolute in its commitment to global humanitarian causes and addressing displacement crises. She also called for reforms in nationality laws and expressed the UK's readiness to join the Global Alliance to End Statelessness in 2024. This exemplifies the UK as a significant contributor to international peace and prosperity.   Sources: THX News, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office & Rita French. Read the full article