Dear colleagues and partners,
At the heart of effective responses lies a vital principle: the active and meaningful engagement of those who have been forced to flee or are stateless. This very principle, enshrined in the Global Compact on Refugees, came to life at the Global Refugee Forum 2023, where over 320 forcibly displaced and stateless delegates participated – more than four times as many as at the first GRF in 2019 – as panellists and moderators, and speakers, significantly enriching the dialogue, and contributing to the announcement of many of the multi-stakeholder pledges that were launched.
From refugee journalists writing blogposts on their hopes for the GRF, to profound discussions with the High Commissioner on what to expect, to videos on the arrival of refugee participants in Geneva, every piece of this collection bears witness to the profound journeys undertaken. Refugees and stateless persons, in their own right, have assumed the mantle of storytellers, capturing not only their own narratives but also conducting insightful interviews with fellow refugees, alongside esteemed figures such as business leaders and representatives of international NGOs.
You will find below various resources such liveblogs, podcasts, news stories, and profiles of participants, shedding light the broad range of skills of the GRF 2023 participants.
In his closing remarks on the last day of the Forum, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, called on everyone to join one additional multi-stakeholder pledge, saying: “Let’s pledge to think about and reflect on the plight of refugees; to empathize with and welcome the exiled; those torn from their homes and homeland; and let us pledge – together, all of us – to do whatever we can, as individuals with a shared humanity, and as institutions, states, or otherwise to protect, help, include, and ultimately solve their plight and help them return – voluntarily, safely and with dignity – to their homes.”
As we continue to increase the meaningful participation of refugees and stateless people in the work we do, we would love to hear from our stakeholders. We also encourage refugees to share what they are doing, and we welcome inputs from others on their efforts to integrate refugees into their work.
If you have good examples, we would be delighted to publish a good practice detailing this work.
The Global Compact on Refugees Coordination Team
