Pledging for the Future: Advancing the Pact for the Future and its Actions through the Global Compact on Refugees

The Summit of the Future is a first of its kind event bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future. This Summit serves as a moment to demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively achieve agreed goals and tackle emerging threats and opportunities.

Building on the momentum of the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) held in 2023, UNHCR is organizing a virtual side event at the Summit co-sponsored by Canada and Colombia to demonstrate the mutual reinforcement of the Pact for the Future and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). The event will highlight key pledges made at the GRF that contribute to advancing the Actions of the Pact and mobilize additional political and financial support toward the implementation of pledges.

The panel will discuss how the GCR's objectives are linked to the Pact’s Chapter 2 Action 15, a cross-cutting goal related to forced displacement: Ensure people affected by humanitarian emergencies receive the support they need.

More specifically, the event will focus on 2-3 key thematic areas and related GCR multi-stakeholder pledges which advance specific Actions of the Pact, potentially including:

• The Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Pledge which supports Action 13 on efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive and just societies and address the root causes of conflicts; Action 16 to seek pacific settlements of disputes and resolve conflicts; and Action 18 to build and sustain peace at national level.
• The Economic Inclusion and Social Protection Pledge which supports Action 2 on the eradication of poverty and Action 6 on investing in people to end poverty and strengthen trust and social cohesion.
• The Climate Action and Finance Pledge which supports Action 9 on enhancing ambitions to address climate change; Action 10 on accelerating our efforts to protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment; and Action 21 on addressing the challenges posed to international peace and security by adverse climate and environmental impacts.
• The Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-based Violence Pledge which supports Action 8 on the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and Action 19 on accelerating the implementation of our commitments on women and peace and security.

Speakers will include:

• Moderator: Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, UNHCR
• Madam Fathia Alwan, Director for Health and Social Development at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
• Dr. Carlos Martín Beristain, Member of the Truth Commission of Colombia
• H.E. Mr. Gustavo Gallón, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
• Ms. Monicah Malith, DAFI Scholar, President of the University of Nairobi Students Association, and youth representative speaking in the Summit of the Future opening ceremony
• Anila Noor, Founder of New Women Connectors and Spokesperson of the Action Network on Forced Displacement
• Ms. Laís Fernanda Souza, Manager for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Accor Brazil

If you would like to take the floor during the event, or send a question to our panellists, please send an email to [email protected] before Thursday at 14:00 (CEST).

Translation will be available in English, French, and Spanish.

Event recordings

English

French

Spanish