2019 Global Refugee Forum

The first Global Refugee Forum took place on 16 (advance session), 17 and 18 December 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland and brought the international community together to demonstrate solidarity with the world’s refugees and the countries and communities that host them.

States and other stakeholders demonstrated leadership, vision and ambition to share the responsibility for refugees by announcing pledges to improve the lives of refugees and their host communities. Participants also shared good practices that illustrate how the Global Compact is already making a difference around the world.

Reflecting the importance of the occasion, the Forum was attended by some 3,000 participants, including four Heads of State or Government, more than 90 Officials at the Ministerial level, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, approximately 55 international organizations (including United Nations system entities and specialized agencies), representatives of more than 130 companies and foundations, approximately 250 civil society organizations and some 70 refugees.

It also generated considerable interest from the public at large and positive media coverage around the world. The refugees who attended the Forum noted the unprecedented depth of their engagement in both the preparations for this global discussion of refugee issues and the event itself, as well as the pledges they themselves made to contribute to the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Read the full summary of the first Global Refugee Forum by the co-convenors, the summary of participation and pledges, and the outcome document.

Pledges and good practices shared at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum can be found on the Digital Platform for the Global Compact on Refugees.

Leadership

The Global Refugee Forum provided the international community with the opportunity to come together around the shared objective of increasing cooperation and solidarity with refugees and affected host countries.

The 2019 Forum was co‐hosted by UNHCR and Switzerland and co-convened by Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Germany, Pakistan and Turkey. All co-hosts and co-conveners were involved in mobilizing broad political support for the Forum. For more information read the summary of the first Global Refugee Forum by the co-convenors.

At the same time, States and other stakeholders had the opportunity to become co-sponsors, participating in a broad alliance of support on a specific area of focus for the Global Refugee Forum and using their energy and expertise to mobilize concrete contributions towards that area.

List of co-sponsors by topic:

How to get involved

In the lead-up and during the course of the 2019 Global Refugee Forum event, many meaningful and important pledges and good practices have been shared.

Through the digital platform for the Global Compact on Refugees, States and other stakeholders have the continued opportunity to announce concrete pledges and contributions that will achieve tangible benefits for refugees and host communities.

Individuals, governments, organizations and businesses across the globe, who are implementing initiatives that are transforming the lives of refugees, stateless people and host communities, are equally encouraged to share their good practices through the platform so that the world can hear and learn from them.

Visit the Digital Platform for the Global Compact on Refugees to find out more about ways you can get involved.

Submit a pledge or contribution Share a good practice

The Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Outcome Documents

Further documents and materials related to the 2019 Global Refugee Forum event:

Refugees and asylum-seekers attending events during the Global Refugee Forum play football on the lawn at the Palais des Nations. © UNHCR/Andrew McConnell
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi meets Jad from Sesame Street, who is visiting the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. © UNHCR/Mark Henley
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (front-centre, crouching) meets a group of 70 young refugees attending the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. © UNHCR/Andrew McConnell
The popular restaurant at the lakefront Bains des Pâquis provides lunch for a group of refugees – attended by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi – during the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. © UNHCR/Andrew McConnell
From left to right: Founder of the Tent Foundation Hamdi Ulukaya, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, CEO of the IKEA Foundation Per Heggenes, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce John W.H. Denton. © UNHCR
Refugees join local players, diplomats and UN staff in teams competing in an indoor football tournament at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. © UNHCR
Craft products made by refugees go on sale at the Noel aux Bastions Christmas market in Geneva to coincide with the 2019 Global Refugee Forum. © UNHCR
Ugandan refugee Charles Burikumaso Nsenga, speaks at a high-level dialogue on protection capacity at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum. © UNHCR
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and co-host Manuel Bessler, head of Switzerland's Humanitarian Aid Unit, sum up the results of the first Global Refugee Forum at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. © UNHCR