UN Refugee Chief urges states to support fairer response to refugee crises

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi called on UN member states to get behind a new global compact on refugees, which places the dignity, rights, and aspirations of refugees and their hosts at its core.

Presenting his annual report and the compact to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York, Grandi said that multilateralism was holding its ground amidst much adversity, but needed reinvigorating.

“Refugees are an international concern, and a shared responsibility,” Grandi said. “In the compact, we will for the first time have a practical workable model, a set of tools that translates this principle into action.”

Grandi expressed concern about how more and more frequently, refugees and migrants have become targets and casualties of divisive political agendas and of regional and international politics.

“We must find a way to shake off the politics – and bring attention back to what matters – dignity, rights, and shared humanity,” Grandi added.

Two years ago, UNHCR was asked by the UN General Assembly to consult with all UN member states and other stakeholders to develop a new international deal for refugees – known as the global compact on refugees – and to propose it as part of its annual report to the world body, as Grandi did.

“Refugees, if given the opportunity, can also be catalysts of humanity, solidarity, of a sense of shared purpose in society – in other words, of all that binds us together and makes us stronger in facing global challenges,” Grandi said.

Crises across all continents have driven the number of people forcibly displaced to 68.5 million people, including more than 25.4 million refugees, Grandi noted in his speech to the UN committee.

Grandi also noted that while there are many sobering examples of refugees and asylum-seekers being pushed away, there were countless local communities around the world – often in remote, border areas – which continue to offer protection and support to refugees despite their own limited means, driven by compassion and fundamental human values.

Grandi urged member states to give the collective endeavor that the compact is strong support and to help with its implementation.

Original source: UNHCR
Published on 31 October 2018