2024 Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways

Third Country Solutions

2024 Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways

30 July 2024
A photo of about seven people sitting in a circle, they are discussing things. holding papers and notepads, and there are coffee cups on the small table they are sitting around

Speakers and attendees at the Resettlement Needs and Priorities in Africa and the Americas breakout session

The Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP) is the most important multilateral forum on third country solutions, drawing together key actors to discuss resettlement and complementary pathways issues. Previously known as the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR), the event first took place in 1995.

This year, the event was organised in Geneva, Switzerland, from 5-7 June, under the theme: Solutions In Action: Advancing the Roadmap 2030. The 2024 CRCP was chaired by the Government of Australia and co-chaired by the Refugee Council of Australia, with the support of UNHCR.

Third country solutions are lifesaving and life changing for refugees

The Global Compact on Refugees calls on the international community to expand third country solutions as one of its main objectives. Resettlement provides a lifeline for those most in need. Other safe pathways, commonly known as complementary pathways, give refugees the opportunity to use their skills, a sponsorship opportunity, or a humanitarian programme, to find safety in a third country that is not the country originally hosting them. Based on the right of family unity and family life, family reunification procedures also help bring separated families back together.

All third country solutions are a tangible way to express solidarity with refugees, share a responsibility with the countries generously hosting big refugee populations, and ultimately address the need for solutions for those forced to flee. If used in a strategic manner, resettlement and complementary pathways can also strengthen protection systems and be a meaningful response to increasing displacement.

A group photo of people in running gear taking a selfie, they are standing in front of a low wall, with a lake behind them, and they are smiling and making peace signs

A true multi-stakeholder approach

One of the key purposes of the CRCP is to convene stakeholders working on resettlement and complementary pathways and provide a platform for open and frank dialogue and the creation of synergies. The 2024 CRCP was attended by over 350 participants including representatives of States, academia, NGOs, international organizations, refugees, refugee-led groups and other key stakeholders. For the first time, representatives of refugee hosting countries such as Uganda, Egypt, Türkiye, India and Thailand participated, providing invaluable insights to the Consultations.

CRCP participants had the opportunity to discuss a range of topics relevant to third country solutions including ensuring effective use of resettlement as a protection and durable solutions tool; the key role of private sector for advancing third country solutions; the importance of refugees, refugee led organizations and diaspora groups in expanding access to resettlement and complementary pathways; the need for meaningful synergies; addressing the challenges of refugees of diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC); the significance of machine readable refugee travel documents as a key enabler for opening up safe opportunities internationally; and the importance of post-arrival and integration support.

A plenary session was also dedicated to the outcomes of the Global Refugee Forum. With 15% of the 1,750 pledges made in the Global Refugee Forum 2023 linked to third country solutions (including pledges made under the multi-stakeholder pledge on resettlement, the multi-stakeholder pledge on skills-based complementary pathways, the multi-stakeholder pledge on supporting refugee family reunification, the multi-stakeholder pledge on refugee travel documents and the multi-stakeholder pledge on community sponsorship), participants discussed next steps towards implementing their commitments. As part of an interactive exercise during the session, attendees were invited to remain standing to indicate the stage of implementation of their GRF 2023 pledges.

Refugees at the core of the CRCP

A photo in profile of Mohammed on the stage, a blurred presentation slide makes up the background

Approximately one in six participants of the 2024 CRCP were refugee representatives. Particularly, the Refugee Advisory Group to the CRCP is the main representative body of regional, national and global refugee representatives influencing policy decision-making on resettlement and complementary pathways at the CRCP. In a true example of meaningful refugee participation, the Refugee Advisory Group members played an important role throughout the organisation of the event and took up the role of presenters, panellists and facilitators in plenary and breakout sessions. Refugees were also included in many of the delegations that attended the CRCP. 

As we stand here today, we ask to be included not as symbols, but as active participants in the decision-making processes. Our journeys have provided us with a unique perspective that is essential in shaping policies and programmes that truly address the needs of refugees

- Noor Azizah, refugee advisor to the Australian Government, during her intervention.

Way forward

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the event. The 2025 CRCP will be chaired by the Government of Spain and the non-governmental organization, Accem Spain.