UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : Media stakeout

[Other language spoken]

We've just concluded UNSCRS Executive Committee meeting.

This is the governing body that brings states together once a year to oversee UNSCRS work and help shape our priorities.

Let me be clear, this has been a difficult year for UNSCR, for the international refugee protection system and for our staff, and above all, for refugees.

Funding cuts have forced immensely difficult decisions at a time when humanitarian needs remain immense state.

At this, XCOM expressed overwhelming support for our work, for our mandate, and for the Refugee Convention and the principles it stands for 75 years after its adoption.

I believe it was an important manifestation of support for the international refugee protection system and for the principles inherent in the 1951 Convention, and for what UNSCR is mandated to deliver on.

International cooperation and multilateralism are being tested, undoubtedly.

Yet nearly 100 countries, including dozens of ministers, came together this week to discuss the challenges before us and how we can address them collectively.

There were differences of opinion and there should be, but there was also a shared recognition that these challenges cannot be addressed by any country on their own.

I'm pleased to announce to you today that consensus was reached on UNSC Rs programmes and budget for 2027.

We also advanced important conclusions on refugee education and the rights of refugees with disabilities.

I was also encouraged by the recognition among many states that prolonged displacement cannot become a permanent condition for millions of refugees.

We can and we must do more to find licence solutions so that people can rebuild their lives and their futures.

This is the ambitious behind my vision to reduce the number of refugees in long term displacement by 50% by the year 2035.

We will now work closely with partners to further develop this vision, address the the questions and establish a clear, practical operational road map for achieving it.

In a world marked by division and uncertainty, you'll appreciate that reaching agreement on these issues is no small achievement.

I also want to use this moment to send a message to refugees around the world.

I know the discussions taking place here in Geneva may seem far removed from the realities you face every day, but your protection, your dignity, and your future are at the heart of our work.

Governments and political circumstances may change.

Our responsibility and commitments to you does not change.

UNSCR was not created for easy times.

It was created to protect people forced to flee, uphold their rights and help them find solutions even in the most difficult circumstances.

That responsibility is as important today as it was when this organisation was established 76 years ago, and we will continue to fulfil our mandate, working with States and our partners, with determination and clear focus on the people we serve.

I want to thank the media for covering this important meeting and more importantly, for the work you do throughout the year to tell the stories of refugees, bring attention to their plight and to ensure their voices are heard.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, Oh, thank you.

What can you tell us about the budget which have been, which has been adopted this year?

Can you give us the amount and in comparison to the previous year please?

We can finish you with all the details.

Of course.

The budget is a needs based budget that has been presented.

It offers what the organisation needs in order to deal with the scale of challenges globally and it's less than last year, but it is not fully funded yet.

We are seeking to fund it.

So we have this needs budget.

This is what we are hoping to achieve and it involved a lot of discussions between donor states as well as hosting nations because hosting nations often seek to emphasise the needs, rightly so, where donor countries often look at what is the availability of the funds.

So that is a dynamic that has been part of the conversation but we have reached consensus on what the overall needs for the organisation is.

[Other language spoken]

Do you have the percentage or the funding As for now?

The funding as of now we are.

Our expectation is that as of this moment, we are projecting about $2.7 billion comparable to what we had last year around this time, 2.68 billion to be said to be fair.

But last year as we moved through the year that increased to 3 billion plus.

We very much hope given the momentum that we have seen here that we will be able to bring in more resources to address the needs across the globe.

The needs are real and the expectations of the Member States is to see more efficiencies, more cost effectiveness, a A cause which we are committed to.

We have already embarked on some very serious initiatives for reform in making sure that our organisation is more agile, more flexible, streamlined and making sure that the resources available to us are really delivered to refugees and what it's meant to be.

[Other language spoken]

Mohammed Iqbal from Anadola Agency, since you taking office, you have, you have visited many crisis zones all around the world, you know.

So as you know well, the crisis is rising up again all around the world.

My question is, what is the significance of these meetings, this ex com, in terms of resolving these crises and how do you assess the stance of the Member States?

[Other language spoken]

I come away from this meeting very gratified for the level of support that we have received for the international protection system, recommitting to the Refugee Convention and to UNHCR.

The support was overwhelming.

Yes, there are concerns, there are issues that are being raised, but the fundamental is the commitment of the international community, overwhelming commitment to supporting UNSCR and supporting the delivery on our mandate.

I believe in this moment of history where the political debates on these fundamental issues, arranging for this to happen is something that I cherish and I'm very grateful for.

And we really need to use it in order to enhance support to the people who need it to, but to make sure also we deliver better and more effectively.

In that context, as I have said in my opinion remarks and reaffirmed in my closing statement as well, we really need to make sure that hosting nations have enough support to deal with the scale of the challenge that they're faced with.

But we should not also be in the process of keeping people dependent on humanitarian assistance for long periods of time.

The numbers are staggering.

2/3 of the refugee population in the world today are essentially condemned to a state of dependency in camps for five years and beyond.

That is not an acceptable situation.

We are putting forward a very ambitious agenda to really reducing the number of people in long term displacement and that are dependent on humanitarian assistance.

We have seen important initiatives around the world.

In Latin America, for example, Venezuela offers opportunities for return, voluntary, safe and dignified.

Of course, in the case of Syria, this country that has been the source of flights and people leaving in their millions as a result of war and persecution, now the story is that people are trying to make it back home.

In many other situations around the world, you have returned possibilities, but you also have countries, host nations that are willing to accommodate refugees, offer them access to jobs, documentation and services.

We need to change the dynamics of managing displacement as a default to 1 of providing pathways for solutions.

Refugees are meant to be in that situation for a temporary.

Not to become a permanent fate.

So the support that we have received in the ex com for this 50 by 35 vision was overwhelming.

Again, the support of the international community that we have received at this X COM for the protection system is overwhelming and is highly appreciated.

And we will work with Member States, hopefully more effectively as we deliver on our mandate.

Thank you very much for taking my question, Maiba, shall we?

For QDO News, the Japanese news agency, you mentioned several times that the support was overwhelming.

Do you know or could you mention as a few new donors, like maybe smaller states or actors having different solutions?

And my second question about Japan, so Ambassador Royke was Chairman, could you give a word about the investment of the Japanese government?

Thank you very much, Chairman.

The Ambassador from Japan, Ambassador Oyuki was chairing the XCOM and has been chairing the board for the last year, has been a remarkable leader and a remarkable partner.

And even though, as he said, this is his last public engagement because he's retiring from office, I know his commitment to the cause of refugees is profound with him and I know that he will continue to engage with us.

In terms of Japan, Japan is an important partner of UNSCR, has been a steady supporter and has continued its contributions to UNSCR for protection and life saving assistance as well as solutions agenda.

I shall be travelling to Japan next week and what I'm looking forward to meeting the government leaders as well as other partners and Japan, I'm hopeful will not only continue but will also make sure that it will deepen its partnership between SCR.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Media stakeout - UNHCR High Commissioner