The Global Compact on Refugees
The Global Compact on Refugees
Refugee children from Venezuela join hands with Ecuadorian children as a sign of their trust in a better future, during an art workshop organised by UNHCR in Huaquillas, a city in south-west Ecuador on the border with Peru.
What is the Global Compact on Refugees?
What is the Global Compact on Refugees?
The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) 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.
Its four key objectives are to:
- 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
Download the GCR Booklet in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish; UNHCR's Quick Guide to the GCR; and How the SDGs and the GCR are aligned.
How did the Global Compact on Refugees develop?
How did the Global Compact on Refugees develop?
The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants was a milestone for global solidarity and refugee protection at a time of unprecedented displacement. Following its adoption by UN Member States in September 2016, its Annex I – the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) – was rolled out in more than a dozen countries across the globe.
Concurrently, extensive consultations were led by UNHCR with Member States, international organizations, refugees, civil society, the private sector, and experts, to draw lessons from the application of the CRRF. This two-year process culminated in the affirmation by UN Member States of the Global Compact on Refugees in December 2018.
Global Refugee Forums & High-level meetings
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (front-centre, crouching) meets a group of 70 young refugees attending the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva.
Global Refugee Forums & High-level meetings
A central arrangement of the GCR is the Global Refugee Forum (GRF), where States and other actors come together every four years to share good practices and contribute with financial support, technical expertise, material support, and policy commitments to help reach the goals of the Global Compact. Additionally, a High-Level Officials Meetings is held at the mid-point between Forums to provide an opportunity for stocktaking on progress made.
Pledges and Contributions
Pledges and Contributions
States and other stakeholders are invited to continue to make pledges and contributions that will result in tangible benefits for refugees and host communities. UNHCR has established an online system for tracking the implementation of the pledges made, and progress updates are available to view on the pledges and contributions dashboard.
Good Practices
Shifat Ullah, 23, at his fabrics shop in Al-Asif Square market in Karachi. Afghan refugees like Shifat have recently been allowed bank accounts in Pakistan.
Good Practices
Sharing good practices inspires action towards the GCR. Good practices can be expanded and replicated in support of long-term solutions for displaced communities and stateless people.
Support Platforms and other initiatives
Support Platforms and other initiatives
The GCR envisions several arrangements for responsibility sharing, such as Support Platforms. These initiatives enable regional and context-specific support for refugees and host communities.