The first Global Refugee Forum (GRF) began in Geneva, Switzerland, on December 17, 2019.
The Forum was jointly hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Refugee Agency, and the government of Switzerland.
Aim
The forum aims to debate and discuss the response of the world’s countries to the global refugee situation.
According to the UNHCR, the first GRF was held “at the end of a tumultuous decade in which the number of refugees has risen to over 25 million people worldwide”.
About GRF
Guided by the Global Compact on Refugees, the Global Refugee Forum is an opportunity to translate the principle of international responsibility-sharing into concrete action.
The Forum will showcase impactful pledges and contributions and the exchange of good practices.
The GRF will be held every four years at the Ministerial level. It is intended to present an opportunity for UN member states and other stakeholders to announce action plans and pledges towards meeting objectives such as easing the burden on the host country, enhancing refugee self-reliance, expanding access to third-country solutions, and supporting conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity.
About Global Compact on Refugees
It emerged from the milestone New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants in 2016. This laid out a vision for a more comprehensive response to these crises, known as the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, or CRRF.
