The role of chair and facilitator of the consultations customarily rotates among the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway). This year, it was Norway’s turn. Following several rounds of consultations in Geneva, during which the participating states agreed on a draft text, the resolution was sent to New York for final adoption at the 71st session of the UNGA.
In addition to annual updates, this year’s resolution also reflected the milestone adoption of the 19 September New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants and recalled the request to UNHCR to develop and initiate a comprehensive refugee response as laid out in annex I of the Declaration. Other notable achievements were the inclusion of references to commitments made on providing quality education, and to positive steps taken by individual states to open their labour markets to refugees.
With record high numbers of forcibly displaced persons, and related issues being firmly on the global agenda, Norway remains a strong supporter of UNHCR’s work and mandate, and will continue working with the organisation, as well as with other states, in the process ahead of developing a comprehensive refugee response and a global compact for refugees.
To read the resolution, please click here