The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG), Leyla Kayacik, represented the Council of Europe at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF), which took place from 13 to 15 December in Geneva
In her speech, she highlighted Council of Europe´s work focusing on the protection of the people in vulnerable situations, in particular women and children in line with its Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable people in the context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025) and its strengthened co-operation with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR.
The Special Representative announced the following new pledges:
- Addressing the statelessness of children and their access to nationality;
- Ensuring gender equality and protection from gender-based violence;
- Achieving inclusion in national health systems and fostering mental health and psychosocial wellbeing;
- Promoting localisation - cities - a call to local action for migrants and refugees.
The SRSG expressed the Council of Europe’s commitment to continue contributing towards the objectives set out in the Global Compact on Refugees.
As one of the members of the Nansen Award Selection Committee, the Special Representative also attended the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award ceremony.
Held every four years, the GRF is the world’s largest international gathering on refugees. It is designed to support the practical implementation of the objectives set out in the Global Compact on Refugees: Ease pressures on host countries, enhance refugee self-reliance, increase access to third-country solutions and improve conditions in countries of origin.
