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Global Compact on Refugees

A historic deal for refugees

In 2018, the world agreed on a new way forward for refugees and their hosts. The agreement, known as the Global Compact on Refugees, aims to improve the international response to new and existing refugee situations, and it seeks to ensure that refugees and the people hosting them receive the support they need.

The Nordic and Baltic countries have been strong and engaged supporters of the Global Compact on Refugees from the beginning. At the world’s first Global Refugee Forum in 2019, the countries in the region provided a large number of important pledges, contributing with vital initiatives, partnerships and financial support, demonstrating commitments to realize the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Global Compact on Refugees

On 17 December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed the Global Compact on Refugees, after two years of extensive consultations led by UNHCR with Member States, international organizations, refugees, civil society, the private sector, and experts.

The Global Compact on Refugees is a framework for more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation. It provides a blueprint for governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that host communities get the support they need and that refugees can lead productive lives. It constitutes a unique opportunity to transform the way the world responds to refugee situations, benefiting both refugees and the communities that host them.

The four key objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees are:

  • Ease the pressures on host countries;
  • Enhance refugee self-reliance;
  • Expand access to third-country solutions;
  • Support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity.

The Global Compact on Refugees emerged from the milestone New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants in 2016, laying out a vision for a more comprehensive and equitable response to refugee crises. 

Learn more about the Global Compact on Refugees

Digital platform

On the digital platform for the Global Compact on Refugees you can find an overview of pledges, track the progress and explore good practices. 

UNHCR's Quick guide

Learn the basics about the Global Compact on Refugees in this Q&A from UNHCR.

Global Compact on Refugees Booklet

In this booklet you can read the Global Compact on Refugees in full. 

Global Refugee Forum

In December 2019, Government ministers, civil society, international organizations, the private sector, academia, refugees, and a wide range of other stakeholders came together in the first, historic Global Refugee Forum. 

The objective of this high-level gathering was to mobilize action and concrete pledges to support a better global response to refugees – and transform the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees into tangible results for refugees and host communities.  

The result was over 1,400 pledges of solidarity and inclusion – financial, technical, political, and innovative commitments for new partnerships, initiatives, and practices. A total of 107 pledges came from governments and other stakeholders in the Nordic and Baltic countries.  

Despite the constraints and challenges posed by the corona pandemic, the roll-out of many pledges are already in progress, and in December 2021, UNHCR will host a High-level Official’s Meeting to take stock, identify gaps, and promote further progress. 

Find more info in the report “Outcomes of the Global Refugee Forum 2019”.

News on Global Compact on Refugees & Global Refugee Forum