The Global Refugees Forum 2023: Great Hopes Ahead
Introduction:
The issue of refugees, forced displacement, and asylum presents overwhelming humanitarian challenges as the international community grapples with the responsibility of addressing the needs of over 110 million people living in harsh conditions due to displacement. Among them, 36.4 million refugees seek shelter and new opportunities in different countries. The Global Refugees Forum, scheduled to take place in Geneva from December 13 to 15, 2023, aims to confront these remarkable humanitarian challenges and formulate effective action plans to improve the situation of refugees.
Refugees face diverse challenges on economic, social, and psychological fronts, with many experiencing feelings of isolation and loss. There is an urgent need for global solidarity and international cooperation to address these complex challenges, emphasizing the importance of integrating efforts between host countries and the international community to provide necessary support for improving refugee conditions.
I am sharing this article with you after my experiences this year, working alongside UNHCR as part of a group of experts United Nations common pledge 2.0,and as Project Manager in the Welcome Alliance — ProjectTogether, and my experiences as a refugee and my preparation to participate in the Global Refugees Forum in Geneva in the coming days.
The Global Refugees Forum: Definition and History
The Global Refugees Forum is an international assembly convened every four years under the Global Compact on Refugees. The forum aims to promote solidarity and international cooperation to address the refugee crisis. The inaugural Global Refugees Forum took place in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2019. The forum successfully brought together the international community in one place to demonstrate solidarity with refugees worldwide and the countries and communities hosting them. Countries and stakeholders demonstrated leadership, vision, and ambition by making commitments to improve the lives of refugees and their host communities. Participants also exchanged best practices that illustrated how the Global Compact was making a difference globally. In 2019, the forum saw approximately 3,000 participants, including four heads of state or government, over 90 ministerial-level officials, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, around 55 international organizations (including UN entities and specialized agencies), representatives from over 130 companies and foundations, and about 250 civil society organizations and approximately 70 refugees.
The Global Refugees Forum will be held for the second time in 2023, from December 13 to 15, at the Palexpo Center in Geneva, Switzerland, with related events starting from December 11 onwards. The forum is the largest international gathering in the world focused on refugees. Its goal is to support the practical implementation of the objectives outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees, which include: (1) easing the pressures on host countries; (2) promoting refugee self-reliance; (3) expanding access to third-country solutions; and (4) supporting conditions in countries of origin for safe and dignified return.
The forum provides an opportunity for countries and stakeholders to announce tangible commitments and contributions, highlight progress made, exchange best practices, and address upcoming challenges and opportunities. Five countries — Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan, and Uganda — are co-chairing the 2023 forum, with Switzerland’s government and the UN Refugee Agency co-hosting. The 2023 forum comes at a time of escalating challenges for refugees and increasing complexity in humanitarian situations globally, raising concerns about international security once again.
The Urgent Need for the Global Refugees Forum
The convening of the Global Refugees Forum in Geneva in December 2023 comes at a time of escalating challenges in the field of asylum and displacement. The continuous increase in the number of refugees and forcibly displaced individuals underscores the renewed importance of intensifying international efforts and cooperation to address these diverse challenges.
According to the “Mid-Year Trends” report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the total number of refugees worldwide reached 36.4 million people by mid-2023, representing a 3% increase (1.1 million people) compared to the end of 2022. As a result, one in every 73 people globally is now forcibly displaced, with about 9 out of 10 displaced individuals living in low or middle-income countries.
In the first six months of the year, seven major displacement crises accounted for approximately 90% of new displacements worldwide. These crises include conflicts and ongoing and new humanitarian situations in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latin America, the Caribbean, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Ukraine.
By the end of June 2023, an estimated 110 million people had been forcibly displaced from their homes due to persecution, conflicts, violence, human rights violations, and events severely disrupting public order. According to UNHCR estimates, it is likely that the number of people forced to flee will increase in the following months, expected to exceed 114 million people by the end of September 2023.
These statistics highlight the urgent need to address this humanitarian challenge. Economic, political, and social conditions in various regions force individuals to leave their homes, requiring an effective international response. As the pressure on host countries hosting refugees increases, providing care, supplies, and opportunities for these individuals imposes economic, social, and security burdens on these nations, emphasizing the necessity for international support and solidarity.
In addition to the need to improve asylum and resettlement mechanisms due to procedural complexities and disparities, effective resettlement opportunities must be provided. With worsening climate conditions and ongoing conflicts, challenges associated with refugees are expected to increase, necessitating the forum to identify adaptation methods and provide sustainable solutions and their impacts.
The forum this year comes at a time of accelerated changes and challenges, calling for new and innovative solutions. The forum represents an opportunity to devise future strategies that enable integration between the public and private sectors and civil society to achieve a more effective and sustainable response. The Global Refugees Forum in 2023 is a clear imperative to confront the growing challenges and ensure the realization of an effective and sustainable response to the international refugee crisis.
Hopes Built on the Forum to Address Critical Refugee Issues
This year’s Global Refugees Forum seeks to identify ways to improve the current situation and ensure a sustainable future for individuals affected by forced displacement. Education stands out as one of the foremost challenges facing refugees. The forum aims to develop effective strategies for providing sustainable educational opportunities by launching new educational initiatives and ensuring the necessary infrastructure in host communities. Education is a fundamental cornerstone in enhancing the lives of refugees, promoting international commitment to providing sustainable educational opportunities for refugee children, empowering them, and improving their future prospects.
Protecting refugees from violence, persecution, and racism is a top priority. The forum aims to enhance safety and protection for the most vulnerable groups, focusing on providing a safe and sustainable environment that promotes human rights, protects them from exploitation, and provides mechanisms to report violations and psychological pressures they may face.
Resettlement is also a crucial step toward building a new life for displaced individuals. The forum works to promote international cooperation to facilitate resettlement operations and provide the necessary support to ensure the success of these operations, serving as a significant step in providing protection.
Forced displacement often requires adapting to new economic conditions faced by refugees and displaced individuals, with limited opportunities to obtain income or decent work that ensures their dignity. Therefore, the forum seeks to develop strategies to combat poverty and unemployment, contributing to improving the living standards of refugees and economically empowering them in many crisis-affected countries, such as Turkey and Lebanon, which host millions of Syrian refugees.
Amid the increasing challenges associated with climate change and conflicts, the forum outlines plans to address the impacts of these factors on refugees, with a focus on providing sustainable solutions.
The forum aims to encourage the international community to actively participate in addressing the refugee issue. These hopes in the forum embody an effective opportunity to enhance international cooperation and provide a comprehensive framework that includes new commitments to make tangible progress in refugee issues. The forum hopes to have a positive impact on the lives of refugees and contribute to creating a future with better prospects for those affected by displacement.
The Global Refugees Forum serves as a vital engine for achieving a sustainable future for refugees. The forum is considered a platform for shaping international policies that reflect the needs of refugees and meet their aspirations. It contributes to establishing an international framework to achieve solidarity and cooperation in addressing the refugee crisis. The forum sheds light on assessing progress in implementing the Global Compact on Refugees and enhances countries’ commitment to meeting the Compact’s requirements and achieving previously set goals. The forum encourages the allocation of financial and technical resources to support host countries and improve the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of refugees. It also promotes collaboration between governments and the private sector to have a positive impact on the lives of refugees.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Global Refugees Forum for the year 2023 emerges as a vital platform to address the pressing humanitarian challenges related to refugees and displaced individuals. With the increasing numbers of refugees and the complexity of humanitarian situations worldwide, the forum comes at a time that requires arbitration and innovative thinking to find effective and sustainable solutions.
The challenges faced by refugees range from economic situations to protection from violence and exploitation. With the worsening challenges associated with climate change and conflicts, we must adapt and provide sustainable solutions. The forum aims to improve asylum and resettlement mechanisms, with a special focus on enhancing educational opportunities and protecting refugees from violence and exploitation.
Resettlement remains a crucial step towards building a new life for displaced individuals, and the forum works to promote international cooperation to facilitate resettlement operations and provide the necessary support. It also seeks to combat poverty and unemployment, economically empowering refugees, especially in countries facing economic crises.
Amidst these increasing challenges, the forum hopes to motivate the international community to actively participate in addressing the refugee issue and providing a comprehensive framework that ensures tangible progress. The forum serves as a vital engine for achieving a sustainable future for refugees, contributing to shaping international policies that meet the needs of refugees and fostering international cooperation and solidarity.
Ultimately, we hope that the Global Refugees Forum 2023 demonstrates a strong commitment to improving the situation of refugees and providing sustainable opportunities for their lives. Through international interaction and collaboration, we aspire for the forum to yield positive results and contribute to building a better future and dignified life for individuals living amidst current humanitarian challenges, serving as a means to achieve a sustainable and humane future for all.
