#RohingyaRefugeeCrisis

[thxnews]

U.S. Leads Global Refugee Support

In a significant move at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, the United States has announced 26 unique commitments, demonstrating its leadership in addressing the needs of refugees and host communities amid historic levels of global displacement. These commitments, part of eight multi-stakeholder pledges, reflect the U.S.’s dedication to strengthening global refugee resettlement opportunities and encouraging innovative responses to the challenges faced by refugees and their host communities.  

A Growing Crisis: The Need for Global Action

Since the consultations for the Global Compact on Refugees began in 2016, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide has surged to over 130 million. This dramatic increase signals an urgent need for the international community to broaden its support base for refugees. The United States, recognizing this urgency, reaffirms its commitment to the Global Compact on Refugees, underscoring a steadfast dedication to championing refugee protection and solutions.   Pioneering Economic Inclusion and Social Protection One of the U.S.'s significant pledges involves joining the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSI), aiming to reach two million households by 2027. This initiative will see U.S. diplomatic and financial support bolstering efforts in countries like Bangladesh, Colombia, and Kenya. Further, the U.S. is committed to increasing private sector engagement to mobilize investment and support economic inclusion in refugee-hosting areas, partnering with organizations like the International Finance Corporation – UNHCR Joint Initiative, the World Economic Forum’s Humanitarian Resilience Investing Call to Action, and the Refugee Investment Network.   Gender Equality and Combating Gender-Based Violence A crucial aspect of the U.S. pledges is the prioritization of gender-based violence prevention and response across global humanitarian efforts. Initiatives like the Safe from the Start ReVisioned aim to increase the representation and leadership of women and girls in decision-making structures, particularly in food-insecure environments. The U.S. is also advocating for greater inclusion of refugee-hosting states within the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies.   Resettlement: Expanding Opportunities and Access President Biden's commitment to admitting up to 125,000 refugees annually into the United States marks a significant pledge toward increasing global resettlement opportunities. The U.S. is poised to meet this ambitious goal, thanks to efforts in rebuilding the capacity of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Additionally, the U.S. will chair and regularly convene the Resettlement Diplomacy Network, focusing on strategic and diplomatic engagement to expand access to global refugee resettlement.   Community Sponsorship and Skills-Based Pathways The U.S. also commits to expanding private sponsorship through initiatives like the Welcome Corps, launched in January 2023. This program aims to engage civil society organizations and local communities in welcoming refugees, with a target of supporting 10,000 refugees in Fiscal Year 2024. Moreover, the Welcome Corps at Work and Welcome Corps on Campus are specialized programs focusing on labor mobility and higher education for refugees.   Special Focus on the Rohingya Crisis Recognizing the plight of the Rohingya, the U.S. pledges to continue expanding the number of Rohingya resettled through the USRAP in Fiscal Year 2024. The U.S. will use its experience and international positions to encourage other countries to expand or create new third-country solutions for Rohingya refugees. Additionally, efforts will be made to expand skills training and support for Rohingya refugees and host communities.   Ending Statelessness: A Global Commitment In a bid to address the challenge of statelessness, the U.S. has pledged to become a member of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness. This move involves advocating for the improvement of statelessness data and the inclusion of stateless persons in statistics, supporting international recommendations and initiatives in this area.   Inclusive Education: A Path Forward The U.S. is advocating for the inclusion of refugees in national education systems and incorporating refugees into its government education strategy. This effort includes advocating for refugee inclusion in multilateral engagements like the Global Partnership for Education and Education Cannot Wait. The political commitments by the United States at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum are a testament to the country's resolve in addressing the global refugee crisis. While these pledges are not legally binding, they represent a significant moral and strategic commitment by the U.S. to lead in providing support and solutions for refugees and host communities worldwide. As the world grapples with increasing displacement, the U.S.'s role in shaping a more inclusive and supportive global response is more crucial than ever.   Sources: THX News & US Department of State. Read the full article

[publicsituation]

RT @amnesty: In our latest #360doc, created in partnership with @ContrastVR, we return to Bangladesh to hear the stories of the #RohingyaRefugeeCrisis. For the full video, watch here: https://t.co/znflFszNml https://t.co/D4FLfT1JLL