Dear colleagues and partners,
The number of displaced people worldwide exceeded 117 million at the end of last year, a daunting figure highlighted in UNHCR’s Global Trends Report released this week. The need for solidarity with refugees is more imperative than ever. The right to asylum is dwindling, support for host countries is declining, and hostility towards displaced people is on the rise again, further fuelled by the impacts of climate change.
Solidarity with refugees means keeping doors open, providing protection, sanctuary, and opportunities to become active members of their new communities. And countries hosting large numbers of refugees, particularly in prolonged situations, cannot be left to cope alone – they too need support.
Today, as we mark World Refugee Day, we are focusing on solidarity and solutions, advocating for a world where refugees are welcomed.
We want to celebrate the work being done by, with, and for refugees. From commitments between States being matched with ambitious host country policies, to hundreds of millions of dollars pledged for regional arrangements and refugees bringing skills and knowledge to their new communities, the work already going into the multi-stakeholder pledges is heartwarming.
Next week we will hear from some of the pledge leads at this year's second informal briefing on the Global Compact on Refugees, taking place in Geneva. They, along with other stakeholders, will provide updates on the implementation of some of the commitments announced at the Global Refugee Forum 2023, and how these pledges are welcoming refugees and supporting host communities around the world.
More than ever, countries and communities hosting large numbers of refugees need our solidarity, as called for in the Global Compact on Refugees. They cannot be left to do this alone, without support or resources.
No display of solidarity is too small, and we continue to encourage everyone to share good practices and examples of how they make refugees feel welcome, so we can celebrate the huge array of projects and programmes being run to achieve the objectives of the GCR and find lasting solutions for refugees and their host communities.
The Global Compact on Refugees Coordination Team
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