UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants

Today, 19 September 2016, the UN General Assembly will host a high-level summit to address large movements of refugees and migrants, with the aim of bringing countries together behind a more humane and coordinated approach.

Un Summit on refugees and migrants, logo

This is the first time the General Assembly has called for a summit at the Heads of State and Government level on large movements of refugees and migrants. The summit takes place at the UN Headquarters in New York.

More information including the programme is available on the website of the UN Summit, as well as the outcomes of the summit : the New York Declaration.

New York Declaration

The New York Declaration contains among others commitments to protect the human rights of all refugees and migrants, regardless of status; and to ensure that all refugee and migrant children are receiving education. It also envisages to support countries receiving large numbers of refugees and migrants. Xenophobia against refugees and migrants are being condemned strongly in the Declaration. On the Summit the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will be brought into the UN system.

Next steps?

The New York Declaration also contains plans for next steps:

  • start negotiations leading to an international conference and the adoption of a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration in 2018.
  • Develop guidelines on the treatment of migrants in vulnerable situations. These guidelines will be particularly important for the increasing number of unaccompanied children on the move.
  • Achieve a more equitable sharing of the burden and responsibility for hosting and supporting the world’s refugees by adopting a global compact on refugees in 2018.

 

Publication Date: Mon 19 Sep 2016
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