A historic deal for refugees

In 2018, the world agreed on a new way forward for refugees and their hosts. The agreement, known as the Global Compact on Refugees, aims to improve the international response to new and existing refugee situations, and it seeks to ensure that refugees and the people hosting them receive the support they need.

The Nordic and Baltic countries have been strong and engaged supporters of the Global Compact on Refugees from the beginning. At the first two Global Refugee Forums in 2019 and 2023, the countries in the region provided a large number of important pledges, contributing with vital initiatives, partnerships and financial support, demonstrating commitments to realize the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees.

What is the Global Compact on Refugees?

The Global Compact on Refugees – that was affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 – is a framework for more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation. It provides a blueprint for governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that host communities get the support they need and that refugees can lead productive lives. It constitutes a unique opportunity to transform the way the world responds to refugee situations, benefiting both refugees and the communities that host them.

The four key objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees are:

Ease the pressures on host countries;
Enhance refugee self-reliance;
Expand access to third-country solutions;
Support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity.

The Global Compact on Refugees emerged from the milestone New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants in 2016, laying out a vision for a more comprehensive and equitable response to refugee crises.

Learn more about the Global Compact on Refugees

Chad. Vocational training centre offers skills to refugees and locals

Digital platform

On the digital platform for the Global Compact on Refugees you can find an overview of pledges, track the progress and explore good practices.

Rwanda. Kepler students photographed on campus

UNHCR's Quick guide

Learn the basics about the Global Compact on Refugees in this Q&A from UNHCR.

Global Compact on Refugees Booklet

In this booklet you can read the Global Compact on Refugees in full.

Global Refugee Forum

Held every four years, the Global Refugee Forum allows States and other actors to come together to share good practices and contribute with financial support, technical expertise and policy changes to help reach the goals of the Global Compact. The first Global Refugee Forum took place in December 2019 and was a milestone in building solidarity with the world’s refugees and the countries and communities that host them. Find more info in the report “Outcomes of the Global Refugee Forum 2019”.

The second Global Refugee Forum took place in Geneva, Switzerland. Over 4,200 participants from 168 countries attended the Forum in 2023, including over 300 refugee delegates. The Forum saw over 1,600 pledges made to support refugees and their host communities. An estimated $2.2 billion in new financial commitments by States and other actors was announced, including some $250 million pledged by the private sector. These outcomes offer a source of hope to the more than 36 million refugees displaced worldwide.

Click here to read more about the 2023 Global Refugee Forum.

Stakeholders announce new pledges on day two of the Global Refugee Forum 2023.

Switzerland. Opening plenary session of the Global Refugee Forum 2023

Global Refugee Forum attendees at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, ahead of the opening plenary session.

Switzerland. Final plenary and closing ceremony on day three of the Global Refugee Forum 2023

United Nations High Commissioner Filippo Grandi and fellow speakers, listen as Agnes Lamoro, South Sudanese refugee and healthcare worker, addresses the final plenary and Closing Ceremony of the Global Refugee Forum 2023.