Refugees and Migrants
Over the long-term the evidence is clear: the benefits of migration vastly outweigh the challenges. And without a clear understanding of migration, negative narratives surround migrants.
Louise Arbour, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration, in remarks to a multi-stakeholder event, 21 Feb '18
Overview
The large forced displacement of populations is a global crisis that requires a collective effort by the international community, led by world leaders. UN Secretary-General has called on everyone to work together to define a clear path forward guided by international refugee law, human rights and humanitarian law.
Record-breaking numbers of refugees and migrants are moving across international borders, fleeing conflict, persecution, poverty and other life-threatening situations, or responding to labour and skill shortages and demographic changes and seeking better opportunities elsewhere. Their journeys can be fraught with peril; appalling tales of tragedies feature daily in the headlines. Those that make it to a destination are frequently met with hostility and intolerance. Those host communities making an effort to provide relief are often unprepared and overburdened by the sheer numbers arriving. Responsibilities are not well distributed: a small number of countries and host communities host disproportionate numbers of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
Beyond loss of life, the large displacement of populations has broader implications for the social, economic, and political landscape
The international response needs to be more robust and collaborative amongst a variety of stakeholders to address large movements of refugees and migrants. The UN system, NGOs and partners are all working to highlight the issue, to secure commitments for assistance and to strengthen the collective response to the crisis.
United Nations Summit on Refugees and Migrants
The UN General Assembly convened a high-level meeting to address large movements of refugees and migrants on 19 September 2016, with the aim of bringing countries together behind a more humane and coordinated approach. The issue of large movements of refugees and migrants is too vast for any one state to handle on its own. The international community must work together to find durable solutions.
Louise Arbour of Canada, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration
The Special Representative leads the follow-up to the migration-related aspects of the 19 September 2016 High-level Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants.
Previous senior leadership appointments include:
- Peter Sutherland of Ireland, who served as Special Representative on Migration for more than 11 years from January 2006;
- Karen AbuZayd of the United States, who served as Special Adviser on the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants from January to October 2016.;
- Izumi Nakamitsu of Japan, who served as Special Adviser ad interim on the follow-up to the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants from November 2016 to February 2017.
Key related events and dates
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UN Reports and Resolutions Related to Migration (1999 – 2014)
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UN High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (2013)
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Annenberg Foundation Photo Exhibit, “REFUGEE” (Los Angeles, 23 Apr to 21 Aug '16)
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Migration Data Briefing for Humanitarian Response and Development (New York, 5 Apr '16)
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Pathways for admission of Syrian Refugees (Geneva, 30 March)
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Conference Supporting Syria and the Region (London, February 2016)
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UNGA meeting on Mediterranean Migrants at UNHQ (New York, 20 Nov '15)
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UNGA Informal meeting on response to humanitarian and refugee crisis (New York, 19 Nov '15)
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IOM Conference on Migrants and Cities in GVA (Geneva, 26–27 Oct '15)
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Global Forum on Migration and Development (Turkey, 14–16 Oct '15)
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High-Level meeting on migration and refugee movements (New York, 30 Sep '15)