Forcibly displaced and stateless participants reflect: Experiences of the Global Refugee Forum 2023
Discover content created by or featuring Global Refugee Forum (GRF) 2023 participants with lived experience of forced displacement and statelessness, as they share their experiences before, during, and after the Forum.
This year saw a remarkable increase in refugee delegates and a shift towards meaningful refugee participation (MRP). From just about 70 refugee leaders in GRF 2019 to over 300 this time, it's a step forward. We need to push for meaningful refugee participation to avoid and discourage refugee tokenism.
Grateful for the incredible opportunity to represent refugees and the health team at the 2nd Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. At the heart of change, I stood alongside the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros, announcing pledges on healthcare, including mental health and psychosocial support.
Displaced and stateless participants share their key messages to world leaders in 30 seconds at the GRF 2023
Evode Hakizimana, a Burundian refugee and founder and CEO of the Transformation Innovation Hub.
Khalida Popal, founder and director of the Girl Power Organization and founder of the Afghan Women’s National Football Team.
Angelina Nyajima from South Sudan, Refugee Advisor at the UK mission to the UN in Geneva.
Alhamis Dicko, a Malian refugee teacher and member of APECS (Association for the Promotion of Education and Social Cohesion).
Zahra Walet Mohammed, a refugee from Mali and an advocate for peace and gender equality.
Ally Mulumba Ntumba, a Congolese refugee, Refugee Congress delegate and GRF refugee expert.
Ahmed Abdalahi Dicko, a Malian refugee and Executive President of the Blood Donors Association in Mauritania's Mbera refugee camp.
We had the opportunity to generate advocacy at the highest levels with States, academia, private sector, UN agencies and international organizations. Together with the Latin American team, we put the focus on our region making concrete proposals that we hope to continue working on in our host countries. … We generated important alliances that will be essential for the commitments made in the next 4 years.
- Roberto Blanco, Venezuelan refugee in Costa Rica and Director of Projects at Alianza VenCR
I presented the consequences of misinformation about refugees, emphasizing that it hinders help provided to them and threatens their security in host countries
Interviews
Journalism mentee Hala Haj Taleb interviewing Dr. Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, to talk about sustainable solutions for refugees and host communities and why the global business community must pledge more support.
Journalism mentee Jean Marie Ishimwe interviewing Judith Lingeman, Director of International Affairs at the Postcode Lottery Group, to talk about the positive impact of flexible funding for organizations supporting and working with refugees.
Journalism mentee Ayuen Isaac interviewing Lisa Felton, Director of Vodafone Foundation, to talk about UNHCR’s #InstantNetworkSchools programme, which provides digital education to over 270,000 students in six countries
Journalism mentee Faridah Luanda interviewing Jessica Anderen, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, to talk about sustainable solutions to support refugees and the communities that host them.
Journalism mentee Opira Bosco Okot interviewing Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, to talk about what to expect from the Global Refugee Forum 2023.
WordOut Community (WCC) member Emma Yakka interviews Perveen Ali, Head of the Global Compact on Refugees Coordination Team at UNHCR, about the outcomes of the GRF.
Ayda Zugay, GRF 2023 participant with the United States Refugee Advisory Board, shares her expectations and hopes ahead of the GRF
Alya, a Syrian refugee fighting for disability rights in Jordan, shared her GRF impressions with UNHCR Jordan (Arabic)
Jackson Byiringiro, refugee journalism mentee, talks about his work and experience as a GRF participant with Jean de Dieu Ndayikeza in the “Change Me Podcast”.
Aya, an Iraqi refugee, interviews Ayoo Irene Helle, a South Sudanese refugee and Partnership Officer at Last Mile Climate.
Aya, an Iraqi refugee, interviews Dennis Arvin Chan, Chief State Counsel, Department of Justice of the Philippines
Opira, a South Sudanese refugee, interviews Mustafa Derbashi, a former Palestinian refugee and general manager of the Asylum Seekers Support Trust.
Opira, a South Sudanese refugee, interviews Areej Alsayed, Youth Council Advisor of the Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, Germany
Opira, a South Sudanese refugee, interviews Bent Lautrup-Nielsen, Head of Global Advocacy at the World Diabetes Foundation.
Cartagena +40 Declaration that recognizes the significant efforts of several Latin American States to ensure the international protection of refugees in our region. A week of much learning, connections, and recognition.
I was amazed by how states and stakeholders expressed dedication to improving the livelihoods of refugees. I hope that this goes beyond just pledging and into action. Seeing successful stories of refugees proved that it's critical for the world to stop viewing refugees as merely beneficiaries, individuals in need of a helping hand, and so on. When given the opportunity, refugees can prosper and impact both their communities and their host countries.
Collections
GRF 2023 refugee participants arrive in Geneva.
What forcibly displaced and stateless participants had to say one day before the Global Refugee Forum 2023.
Refugee participants’ impressions of day 3 at the GRF.
The BBC Global News Podcast’s “The Happy Pod: Refugees share their stories of hope” featuring Abdullahi Mire, 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award winner, Bernice Kula-Kula, GRF refugee student participant, and Santos Madhieu Mawien, refugee journalism mentee, to hear about their crucial work to help refugees.
GRF refugee participants Mohadese Mirzaee, Afghanistan’s first female airline pilot, and La Yeonu, refugee expert, asked GRF participants to describe the Forum in one word.
GRF is concluded; now it's time for implementation. Despite over a thousand pledges from around the world, why do challenges persist? … As a friend once said during the event: if each of the 4000 attendees fulfills their commitments, forcibly displaced communities would lead significantly better lives.
- Shalom Ishimwe, refugee journalism mentee, reflects on his experiences after the GRF 2023.