The IRC's priorities at the Global Refugee Forum
At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the International Rescue Committee is calling on the EU and its member states to:
- Commit to resettle at least 44,000 refugees in 2024, and make bold commitments for years to come in line with Europe’s true capacity for welcome.
- Expand and improve access to other safe routes for people seeking protection in Europe including humanitarian admissions, family reunification, and work and study schemes.
- Strengthen cooperation with refugees’ countries of first asylum to overcome barriers and delays to people being resettled in Europe. In 2022, only half of the 16,000 places pledged by EU states were filled, leaving thousands of people stuck in limbo.
- Invest in resettlement schemes, working with refugee communities and refugee-led organisations to guarantee their effectiveness.
- Adoption of the Union Resettlement Framework would establish a more structured and predictable EU resettlement system that is capable of withstanding future shocks.
- Protect and strengthen the fundamental right for all people to seek asylum in Europe, regardless of where they are from or how they arrive.
For more information on the IRC's recommendations for the international community, download our briefing document Ensuring Prosperity for Refugees and Host Communities: Priority Actions for the 2nd Global Refugee Forum.
About the Global Refugee Forum
Taking place every four years, the Global Refugee Forum is the world's largest international gathering on refugees.
The forum is designed to support the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees, including easing pressure on host countries, enhancing refugee self-reliance, increasing access to third-country solutions and improving conditions in countries of origin. The forum also provides the opportunity for countries and stakeholders to announce migration and asylum pledges and contributions, as well as highlight progress made, share good practices and take stock of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The forum is hosted by UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency, co-hosted in 2023 by the Government of Switzerland, and co-convened by Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan, Niger and Uganda. Visit the official website to learn more about the Global Refugee Forum.
Pathways to protection like resettlement, humanitarian admissions programmes, and family reunification can be a lifeline for people seeking safety for themselves and their loved ones. Browse a selection of stories from IRC staff and clients whose lives have been impacted by the limited number of legal pathways to safety for refugees in Europe.
More information on safe pathways to protection and refugee resettlement.
