Event Body Meeting
Global Refugee Forum 2023
13 Dec 2023 – 15 Dec 2023
Venue: Palexpo
Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Global Refugee Forum 2023 will take place from 13 to 15 December at Palexpo, with linked events held in other locations from 11 December onwards, and include on the agenda various sessions will be dedicated to climate action.
About
The Global Refugee Forum 2023 will take place from 13 to 15 December at the Palexpo with linked events held in other locations from 11 December onwards.
Held every four years, the Forum 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.
It provides the opportunity for States and stakeholders to announce concrete pledges and contributions, highlight progress made, share good practices and take stock of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The 2023 Forum is co-convened by five States – Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan and Uganda, and co-hosted by the Government of Switzerland and UNHCR.
Linked Events
While Global Refugee Forum 2023 is by invitation only, various linked events will take place in Geneva in the lead-up to and during the Forum. Among these, various sessions will be dedicated to climate action.
Monday, 11 December 2023
- Climate Change and Displacement in Asia: Emerging Trends, Available Evidence and Building Resilience Now | 07:00-08:00 CET | Virtual
Co-hosted by UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and the CGIAR Initiative on Fragility, Conflict and Migration, this will be a virtual discussion on climate change and displacement in Asia and the Pacific between policymakers, practitioners, researchers and affected communities and will provide an opportunity to discuss inclusive laws and policies, share good practices and emerging lessons, and underline the need for scaled-up financing and collaboration at the national, regional and global levels.
Tuesday, 12 December 2023
- Religious Leaders Unite for Climate Peace in Solidarity with Refugees | 14:00-15:00 CET | Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre – Plenary Room E+F
Refugees, regionally diverse international and local religious leaders, faith representatives and institutions will gather for a special ceremony of inter-religious prayer and tree planting, co-curated by the Plateforme InterReligieuse de Genève, and hosted by the World Council of Churches at the Chapel of the Ecumenical Centre, Rte des Morillons 1, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, Geneva. The special event will be followed by announcements of GRF pledges by delegates. - Bridging the Gap between Climate Action and Forced Displacement: Connecting COP28 and the Global Refugee Forum | 16:30-18:00 CET | Centre International de Conférences – CICG | Plenary Room E+F
This panel discussion – which will take place as COP28 concludes in Dubai and the GRF starts in Geneva – aims to bring the insights and discussions that emerged during COP28 into the GRF space, acknowledging where the agendas converge and where shared learnings may result. Through this discussion, organised by the Global Refugee-Led Network, the IFRC and Oxfam, we bring together refugee leaders, NGOs, policymakers and other stakeholders to explore the direct implications that the climate crisis is having on global patterns of forced displacement and promote joined-up policy-making in this area. As these crises converge, the need for collective action and shared responsibility has never been more urgent.
Thursday, 14 December 2023
- Melkadida Refugee Compact and Kebribeyah Integration Road Map | 10:00-11:30 CET | Hilton Geneva Hotel – London Room
Co-hosted by the Government of Ethiopia and IKEA Foundation with support from UNHCR, the thematic focus is on climate-adaptation and local solutions focusing on Ethiopia’s approach to refugee inclusion in the context of Melkadida and Kebribeyah refugee hosting areas. The transformative partnership with IKEA F and ongoing collaboration with IFC will be discussed. The event is open to the public. Refugees will participate through virtual modalities, including video messages from Melkadida and Kebribeyah.