OTTAWA, 11 December 2019 – CARE International today called on world leaders to seize the opportunity of the first-ever Global Refugee Forum to deliver bold new solutions to uphold the human rights of refugees and support the communities generously hosting them.
"The Global Refugee Forum provides a first critical test of world leaders' intention to bring about a more sustainable and rights-based approach to the way we respond to the needs of refugees," said CARE Canada's Vice President for Global Partnerships, Jessie Thomson.
"The brunt of these crises is too often born by women and girls and other vulnerable groups who are frequently left in limbo for decades, with no solutions in sight. For the first time in years, we have an opportunity to transform the way we respond to the rights and needs of refugees, but we need the political will of governments around the world to deliver on the ambitions set out in the Global Compact on Refugees."
The Global Refugee Forum will be hosted by the United Nations Refugee Agency in Geneva from 17-18 December, and will be attended by states, international organizations, refugees, civil society, the private sector, and experts. It is the first global conference since the adoption of the Global Compact for Refugees in December 2018 – a global deal that promotes greater international cooperation in support of refugees and the communities that host them.
85 per cent of the world’s 70.8 million displaced people are in developing countries already struggling with resource constraints and inadequate public services. Amid increasingly prolonged conflicts around the world and increasing incidence of permanent displacement due to factors related to climate change, the length of time a refugee spends in exile often stretches over decades.
"No one chooses to be driven from their home and community," noted Thomson. "Next week, world leaders face a historic opportunity to continue the shift towards a more sustainable and collaborative approach that can enable displaced people realize their rights, regain their self-reliance, and support the communities that have generously welcomed them."
CARE has spokespeople available. For media inquiries, please contact:
Lama Alsafi
[email protected] | 613-228-5641
About CARE Canada
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE develops solutions alongside women and girls in developing countries to lift themselves, their families, and their communities out of poverty and out of crisis. CARE stands with women and girls around the world in economic empowerment. We bring women, girls, and their communities together to challenge inequality while facing issues like food insecurity, climate change, and emergency relief in times of crisis or disaster. CARE works in 100 countries around the world.
To learn more about CARE Canada, visit www.care.ca.