Refugee Congress and USRAB at the Global Refugee Forum

Washington, D.C. - Refugee Congress and the U.S. Refugee Advisory Board (USRAB) returned from Geneva last week, where we powerfully represented on behalf of U.S.-based leaders with lived forced displacement experience. The Global Refugee Forum Progress Review convenes two years after the second Global Refugee Forum took place in 2023 and is an opportunity for partners and allies across public, private, and NGO sectors to take stock and assess progress on commitments made to the multistakeholder pledges, and reaffirm commitment to the principles of the Global Compact on Refugees. Refugee Congress has been engaged in multistakeholder commitments, including refugee resettlement and complementary pathways, meaningful refugee partnerships, and family reunification (the Global Family Reunification Network).

As part of the orientation day hosted by UNHCR and the UNHCR Lived Experience Advisory Council, the week kicked off with a training on diplomacy and strategic networking for refugee leaders from around the world, jointly led by Refugee Congress, USRAB, and Refugee Council USA (RCUSA).

On day two, Refugee Congress’ Indiana Delegate Ally Ntumba, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Patchwork Indy participated in a Connected and protected: safeguarding digital protection in the AI era, a panel discussion that highlighted best practices for reducing information risks and their consequences in humanitarian contexts, alongside representatives from Google, the governments of Switzerland, Norway, and South Africa, and the Association for Progressive Communication in India.

We were proud to be a part of R-SPACE, a refugee-led initiative that brought together cross-sector partners to participate in events that were fully shaped and led by global leaders with lived forced displacement experience. The US Refugee Advisory Board, together with the Refugee Advisory Board Germany, hosted Meaningful Refugee Participation Under Pressure: Models, Accountability, & Redefining Impact, exploring how Meaningful Refugee Participation is evolving and can be strengthened in this challenging global political landscape.

Refugee Congress co-convened a high-level side event with international NGO partners, including Church World Service, Caritas, Danish Refugee Council / Dansk Flygtningehjælp, GARLOs, Human Rights First, HIAS, ICVA, International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), Jesuit Refugee Service, UNSW Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, Norwegian Refugee Council, PILnet, Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT), Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), Relon Uganda, and Women's Refugee Commission. Moderated by Refugee Congress Board Chair Emeritus Lourena Gboeah, the event opened with remarks from Norwegian Refugee Council’s Jan Egeland and concluded with powerful remarks from Human Rights First’s Eleanor Acer. The event included remarks and interventions from representatives from the governments of Switzerland, Spain, Mexico, and Finland, signaling that despite the U.S.’s abdication of moral and humanitarian leadership, the international humanitarian community remembers its obligations to uphold international humanitarian and refugee law.

Throughout the week, Refugee Congress and USRAB ensured that the voices and expertise of U.S.-based leaders were heard clearly – a strong reminder that thousands of advocates remain committed to upholding the Refugee Convention and our commitment to all who have been forcibly displaced.

We extend a special thanks to:

Meredith Owen and our colleagues at Refugee Council USA for delivering a strong statement on behalf of civil society, calling out the current U.S. administration for turning its back on its historic role as a global leader in refugee protection.

Suzanne Ehlers and our friends at USA for UNHCR hosted an intimate breakfast for partners and friends, which was an opportunity to reenergize and recharge.

Davina Said and Eleanor Acer for their coordination of a successful event on upholding humanitarian conventions.

Pauline Haupt and UNHCR for the wonderful opportunity to work with and resource refugee leaders from across the globe to engage at the GRF and in advocacy beyond.

Our deepest thanks to all the Refugee Congress and USRAB members who joined us, including Lourena Gboeah, Dauda Sesay, Carmen Kcomt, Nejra Sumic, Ayda Zugay, Nabin Dhimal, and Ally Ntumba.

And to so many allies, advocates, and partners (too many to name!) – thank you for showing up and standing up for all who have been forcibly displaced.