Refugee Congress | August 3-4, 2011
Refugees lend their voices on past successes and future challenges of strengthening refugee protection.
Supermodel Alek Wek delivers keynote speech at historic Refugee Congress
Aims and Outcomes
Congress Aims:
Refugees speaking for refugees
As we mark 60 years of refugee protection, we look to people who were themselves uprooted for insight and guidance on the way forward. The planning, proceedings, and outcomes of the Congress will reflect the priorities of refugees in the United States.
Celebrating achievements, addressing obstacles
The United States has a long history of welcoming displaced and persecuted persons from around the world. Many resettled refugees have gone on to build successful lives and to contribute to their communities. The Congress will examine how the tradition of helping refugees can be sustained and improved to better respond to the needs of new arrivals.
A refugee perspective on global development
The participants at the Congress will speak on behalf of the millions of refugees who have begun new lives in the United States. Their work in Washington, DC, will help ensure that those who are still in need of protection are not forgotten.
Outcomes:
- Increase awareness on Capitol Hill of refugee protection concerns and the role of UNHCR.
- Produce recommendations for U.S. Congress regarding refugee protection issues.
- Compile the proceedings, findings, and recommendations of the Congress into a report that will be incorporated into the Ministerial Meeting to be held in Geneva in 2011.
- Distribute the final report from the Congress to UNHCR working groups and to the Annual Tripartite Consultation on Resettlement (ATCR) with resettlement countries.
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