UNHCR-NGO Consultations on Global Refugee Crisis

The Annual Consultations between UNHCR and NGOs have been held for approximately 30 years, and have grown significantly over time. They started as a half-day meeting for NGOs but they have now developed into a busy three-day forum. The Annual Consultations provide an important opportunity for NGOs to raise issues, to network, and to exchange views with UNHCR and other NGOs. UNHCR’s Partnership Section and the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) are responsible for organizing the Annual Consultations. In the past several years, the NGO CoM has helped to organize the workshop portion of the consultations by making preliminary recommendations for discussion topics and panelists.

The 2016 UNHCR’s Annual Consultation with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) took place in Geneva, Switzerland during a time when more that 65 million people are forcibly displaced. Refugee, stateless and internally displaced youth  represent an underserved group in humanitarian operations. To examine these issues more closely, 30 youth delegates met with 520 representatives from 300 organizations in 87 countries to discuss this year’s theme: “Youth-the future is now”.

Professor Jennifer Bond was an invited Canadian representative and delivered two presentations:

• Americas Panel – “Canada’s Private Sponsorship Program: Model for the World”
• UNHCR Strategic Litigation Roundtable – “Non-Legal Aspects of Strategic Litigation”