Thematic Focus: Solutions for Syrians

Events:

Conference: High-level Meeting on Global Responsibility Sharing through Pathways for Admission of Syrian Refugees, Geneva, 30 March 2016 [info]
- As noted in this news story, UNHCR will host "a one-day, high-level conference in Geneva focusing on refugees from Syria and the need for generating a substantial increase in resettlement and other answers for their plight. ...The focus of the March 30 conference is the need for expanded, multi-year programmes of resettlement and other forms of humanitarian admission, including involving countries that till now have not been involved in such initiatives. Resettlement is not the only aim. Other such pathways include humanitarian transfer or visas, private sponsorship, medical evacuation, family reunion, academic scholarship, and apprenticeships or labour schemes. The event will also showcase innovative approaches, new partnerships, and successful case studies, and is an opportunity for governments around the world to be part of finding solutions for Syrian refugees." Read this factsheet for more information. The conference will be livestreamed (visit the conference page to view the proceedings). More media information is available in this briefing note and on the media page.

Webinar: Resettlement Plus: Clearing the Path to Safety and Opportunity for Refugees, Online, 31 March 2016 [info]
- Migration Policy Institute has scheduled a webinar to discuss the outcomes of the high-level meeting, as well as provide an "analysis of how states and civil society can work together to realize the intensifying calls for new pathways to support the safe and legal migration—and successful integration—of refugees in practice."

Publications:

#AcrossBorders and the Future: From Destination to Integration (Devex, March 2016) [text]
- "Devex spoke to a number of organizations responsible for facilitating the intake of refugees into their new host countries, to learn about their biggest challenges and best practices when it comes to ensuring a smooth integration of refugees at their destination."

EU-Turkey Agreement: 54,000 Places Allocated for Resettlement of Syrians from Turkey (European Commission, March 2016) [text]
- "The proposal responds to the need to commit further places for resettlement from Turkey, following Friday's agreement to resettle one Syrian from Turkey for every Syrian readmitted by Turkey after arriving irregularly in the Greek islands."

NGO Joint Statement at Side Event on Pathways for Syrian Refugees, 65th Meeting of the Standing Committee, Geneva, 15 March 2016 [text]
- Calls on "governments to expand the criteria for admission to countries where refugees can find safety in order to offer solutions to a more generous number of refugees from Syria" and "states to commit to taking at least 10 percent of Syria’s refugee population currently living in the main host countries...through resettlement and humanitarian admission programmes."

No Way Out? Making Additional Migration Channels Work for Refugees (Migration Policy Institute, March 2016) [text]
- "This report explains how governments, international organizations, and other actors can support refugees’ paths to self-sufficiency and stability by ensuring the accessibility of existing opportunities as well as creating new ones."

Relocation and Resettlement: EU Member States Urgently Need to Deliver (European Commission, March 2016) [text]
- Includes links to the First Report on Relocation and Resettlement, as well as annexes with additional information on the situations in Greece and Italy and other materials.

Resettling 10 Percent of Syrian Refugees: The Commitment Needed at the Geneva Conference (Oxfam, March 2016) [text via ReliefWeb]
- "Oxfam’s new analysis released today shows that only three countries – Canada, Germany, Norway – have made resettlement pledges exceeding their ‘fair share’, which is calculated according to the size of their economy, and five others – Australia, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand – have pledged more than half of it."

Campaign:

Refugee Resettlement Changes Lives (Amnesty International) [access]
- "By opening up safe and legal routes, governments can protect the most vulnerable refugees and stop people risking dangerous journeys."

Related posts:
- Regional Focus: Europe (28 March 2016)
- Regional Focus: Syria (24 March 2016)
- Thematic Focus: Solutions (7 March 2016)

Tagged Publications and Events & Opportunities.