AS FORCED displacement globally reaches unprecedented levels, some 4,000 delegates from 165 countries — including refugee leaders, activists, heads of state, governments and businesses from around the world — came together in Geneva on Wednesday for the three-day Global Refugee Forum (GRF). 

The forum aims to address the urgent challenges and long-term solutions needed for more than 114 million displaced people, of whom 36 million are refugees.

This is the second GRF, the largest international refugee forum in the world, convened every four years under the UN Global Compact for Refugees.

In his opening address, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi referenced the global divisiveness and unprecedented number of conflicts causing displacement. 

Mr Grandi called on participants to ensure that all refugees, regardless of where they come from, receive attention and support.

The High Commissioner said he wanted to “make this Global Refugee Forum a moment of unity, in which all of us join forces to ensure that those who flee because their life, freedom and security are threatened can find protection; and that everything is done to resolve their exile as soon as possible.”

The forum is co-convened by Switzerland’s State Secretary for Migration, Christine Schraner Burgener; King Abdullah II of Jordan; Colombian Vice-President Francia Marques; Uganda’s Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja; France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna; and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.

Some 300 refugees were invited to participate at this GRF, including Adhieu Achuil Dhieu, a South Sudanese refugee, who delivered an impassioned statement on behalf of UNHCR’s Advisory Board of Displaced and Stateless Persons.

By the GRF’s conclusion, stakeholders are expected to commit to tangible pledges ranging from financial contributions to material, technical, policy support and working together in solidarity to find lasting solutions for the millions of refugees around the world forced to flee.