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Full programme for Thursday 14 December

Thursday 14 December

9:00 - 13:00 | Opening plenary session

  • Room: Details to be provided 
  • Languages available: Details to be provided

Opening remarks by the Co-Hosts

Statements by the United Nations Secretary-General and the Co-Convenors

Broadening the base

13:30-15:00 | Parallel high-level events

Concurrent in-depth panel discussion sessions on the key themes of the Global Compact on Refugees.

The precise timings of individual parallel high-level events and the full list of speakers will be provided soon. 

Solidarity in Cities: Learning from Mayors on Refugee Inclusion in Urban Areas

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: Room V
Languages available: English, French, Arabic

Moderators:

  • Ms. Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director, Mayors Migration Council
  • Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments

Speakers:

  • Mr. Farhad Ataee, Incubator Manager, SINGA
  • Mr.  Yousef Al Shawarbeh, Mayor, City of Amman, Jordan
  • Mr.  Ron Nirenberg, Mayor, City of San Antonio, Texas, The United States of America
  • Ms. Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda, Governor, State of Baja California, Mexico
  • Mr. Edward Infante López, Mayor, City of Carmen de la Legua, Peru
  • Ms. Gilmar de Souza Borges, Mayor, City of Fundão, Portugal
  • Mr. Marvin Rees, Mayor, City of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • Ms. Sanya Wilson, Mayor, City of Koboko, Uganda
  • Mr. Filippo Mannino, Mayor, City of Lampedusa, Italy
  • Ms. Corine Mauch, Mayor, City of Zurich, Switzerland
  • Mr. Hildebrand Niyomwungeri, Mayor, City of Nyamagabe, Rwanda
  • Mr. Sami Kanaan    Executive Councillor, City of Geneva, Switzerland
  • Ms. Patricia Barandun, Chief of Section, Migration and Forced Development, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Scaling up Climate Action in Displacement Settings

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: Room X
Languages available: English, French, Arabic

Speakers

  • Speakers TBD
The Promise of Secure Housing, Land, and Property Rights – From Response Planning to Durable Solutions Programming: Myth, Legend, Opportunity?

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: Room P
Languages available: English, French, Spanish

Moderator: Mr. Mamadou Dian Balde, Bureau Director for the Eastern Horn of Africa and Great Lakes, UNHCR

Speakers

  • Mr. Houliang Xu, Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator, United Nations Development Programme
  • Dr. Joan Kagwanja, Chief of the Agribusiness Enabling Environment Section and Coordinator for the African Land Policy Center, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
  • Ms. Natalie Roque, Minister of the Secretariat of Human Rights, Government of Honduras, 
  • Representative, Government of Poland
  • Representative, Government of South Sudan
  • Ms. Elizabeth Moreno Barco, Coordinator for FISCH, Nansen Regional Award Winner for the Americas 2023, Chocó Solidarity Inter-ethnic Forum (FISCH) 
  • Ms. Marit Glad, Global Programme Director, Norwegian Refugee Council
  • Mr. Chris Lukkien, Chief Executive Officer, ZOA Netherlands
A Regional Approach to finding solutions for Displaced Populations and their Host Communities in the IGAD Region

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: Room K
Languages available: English, French

Speakers

  • Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Authority on Development
  • Mr. Said Nouh Hassan, Minister of Interior, Government of Djibouti
  • Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister, Government of Uganda
  • Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director for Human Development, Migration, Governance & Peace, Directorate-General for International Partnerships
  • Ms. Adhieu Achuil Dhieu, Executive Director, MonyQadow
Resettlement

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: Room W
Languages available: English, French

Moderator: Hon. Andrew Giles, MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Government of Australia

Speakers:

  • Mr. Marc Miller, Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Government of Canada
  • Mr. Kjetil Vevle, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion, Government of Norway
  • Mr. Bayram Yalinsu, Director General of International Protection, Presidency of Migration Management, Government of Türkiye
  • Ms. Claire Putzeys, Director for Refugees at the U.S. National Security Council, Government of the United States of America
  • Ms. Nina Gregori, Executive Director, European Union Agency for Asylum
  • Ms. Najeeba Wazefadost, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific Network of Refugees
  • Ms. Paula Santacruz, Refugee Advisor for the New Zealand Government    
  • Mr. Eyad Jaabary, Refugee Advisor on Resettlement and Complementary Pathway    
  • Ms. Teddi Jallow, Executive Director, Refugee Dream Center
  • Ms. Shaza Al Rihawi, Co-Founder    Global Refugee-led Network
  • Mr. Sasha Chanoff, Chief Executive Officer, RefugePoint
  • Ms. Yamamah Agha, General Manager Newcomers, Settlement and Integration    Settlement Services International

13:00-15:00 | Lunch break

13:30-15:00 | Parallel high-level events

Concurrent in-depth panel discussion sessions on the key themes of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Please note that some events have adjusted timings. For the exact timing of each event, kindly refer to the event details. 

Context of Forced Displacement Related to The Central African Republic Crisis: CAR Solutions

Time: 13:00-14:30
Room: K
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82169696373 

Moderator:

  • Ms. Virginie Baïkoua, Minister of Humanitarian Action and National Reconciliation, Government of Central African Republic

Speakers: 

  • Mr. Mohamed Ag Ayoya, Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary General; Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic

  • H.E. Mr. Jean Pierre Baptist, Permanent Representative of Chad to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Government of Chad

  • Mr. Hassan Hamid Hassan, Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Government of Sudan

  • Hon. Angelina Jany Teny, Minister of Interior, Government of South Sudan

  • Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner-Operations United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • H.E. Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister of External Relations, Government of Cameroon
  • Ms. Irène Marie Cécile Mboukou Kimbatsa, Minister of Social Affairs, Solidarity and Humanitarian Action of the Republic of Congo
  • H.E Jean-Claude Molipe Mandongo, Vice Minister of Interior, Security and Customary Affairs of DRC
  • H.E. Mr. Félix Moloua, Prime Minister, Government of Central African Republic 
  • Mr. Stephan Maurer, Geneva Representative, Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
  • Mr. Gédéon Tanguy Just Panté, Refugee Expert from the Central African Republic
  • Mr. Mamady Souare, Keynote speaker for Core Group Resident Representative COCF, African Development Bank
Data & Forced Displacement: Fostering refugee inclusion through national statistics

Time: 13:00-14:30
Room: V
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86840122833 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Xavier Devictor, Co-Director for the World Development Report & Manager in the Fragility, Conflict, and Violence Group, World Bank

Speakers: 

  • Mr. Dante Carhuavilc, Head of the National Institute for Statistics and Information, Government of Peru

  • Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director for Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Union

  • Mr. Felipe Muños Gomez, Chief, Migration Unit, Inter-American Development Bank
  • Ms. Anila Noor, CEO, New Women Connectors
  • Mr. Ole Thonke, Under Secretary of Development Policy, Government of Denmark
  • Dr. Baradine Zakaria Moursal, Director General for the National Institute for Statistics, Economic and Demographic Studies, Government of Chad
Sustainable Integrated Human Settlements: Towards Refugees Inclusion and Self-Reliance and Community Resilience

Time: 13:00-14:45
Room: X
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88106375141 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Sami Kanaan, President, Global Cities Hub

Speakers: 

  • Mr. Yousef Al Shawarbeh, Mayor of the City of Amman, Jordan
  • Mr. Mamadou Dian Balde, Director, Regional Bureau for the Eastern Horn of Africa and Great Lakes, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Julius Bitok, Principal Secretary, State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, Government of Kenya
  • Dr. Habtamu Itefa Geleta, Minister and Water and Energy, Government of Ethiopia
  • Mr. Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Dr. Stephen Jackson, UN Resident Coordinator, Kenya
  • Ms. Lotte Machon, State Secretary for Development Policy, Government of Denmark
  • Mr. Sajjad Malik, Director, Division of Resilience and Solutions, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat
  • Dr. James Mwangi, Group Managing Director, CEO Equity Group Holdings and Executive Chairman, Equity Group Foundation
  • Ms. Suheyla Saad Vefai, Refugee Expert
  • Mr. Kim Nøhr Skibsted, Executive Director (CEO), Grundfos Foundation
  • Mr. Oumar Sylla, Director Regional Office for Africa UN-Habitat 
From pledges to results: Realizing a world free from statelessness through collaborative action

Time: 13:00-14:30
Room: W
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88517104880 

Speakers:

  • Mr. Azizbek Ashurov, Coordinator, Central Asian Network on Statelessness
  • Mr. Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Mr. Dennis Arvin L. Chan, Chief State Counsel, Department of Justice, Government of Philippines
  • Ms. Kareen Jabre, Director, Division of Programmes, Inter-Parliamentary Union
  • Mr. Paul Koreki, Conseiller technique chez le Cabinet du garde des Sceaux, Ministre de la Justice, Government of Côte d'Ivoire
  • Ms. Maha Mamo, Human Rights Activist, France
  • Ms. Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, UNHCR

13:30 - 16:00 | Speakers' Corner

  • Room: Exhibition space

Short, impactful talks from a range of experts working in forced displacement. Gain insights from humanitarians, government representatives, UN personnel, academics, and refugees themselves as they cover best practices, innovative approaches, and strategies to tackle upcoming challenges.

Speakers' Corner schedule

13:30 – 13:40

Hiring refugees is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also good for business

Speakers: Ingka group:

  • Ms. Julia Olofsson, Human Rights & Social Impact Manager
  • Ms. Regula Bächli, Integration Program Leader

13:40 – 13:50

The Poverty Alleviation Coalition (PAC)

Speaker: Ms. Sarah Estermann, Caritas Switzerland

13:50 – 14:00

From refugee communities to flagship stores: how companies can create impact for women through MADE51

Speaker: Ms. Maral Sheuhmelian, HDIF, MADE51 social enterprise partner

14:00 – 14:10

Building Inclusive Societies with the Private Sector - SSI in Partnership with Allianz Insurance

Speaker: Mrs. Sonia Vignjevic and Mrs. Yamamah Agha, Settlement Services International (SSI)

14:10 – 14:20

There are now over 114m people forced to flee, but how much do we really know about them and their lives?

Speaker: Dr. Takaaki Masaki, Senior Economist, Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement

14:20 – 14:30

How refugee-led organizations can advocate for health and mental health in resettlement contexts

Speaker: Dr. Mohammad Alhadj Ali, Chairperson, The Syrian Welsh Society

14:30 – 14:40

Reuniting families, Rebuilding lives

Speaker: Ms. Aresu Rabbani, Refugee Delegate, Asylex

14:40 – 14:50

Status Determination, Vulnerability and Rights in Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Jordan, South Africa and Turkey

Speaker: Dr. Sergio Carrera, ASILE Project Coordinator

14:50 – 15:00

When refugees become certified: refugees integrating the aid sector as professionals

Speaker: Mrs. Dorothée Lintner, Managing Director of Bioforce

15:00 – 15:10

Specialized Childcare Organizations for Unaccompanied Minors

Speaker: Ms. Gülbahar Bayrak, Expert on Family and Social Services, Directorate General of Child Services, Ministry of Family and Social Service, Türkiye

15:10 – 15:20

A refugee led organization helping LGBTQIA+ refugees in their integration within French society 

Speaker: Mr. Thomas Ologo, Social mediator and President of the NGO "Arc Essentiel"

15:20 – 15:30

Supporting Refugees through Volunteerism

Speaker: Ms. Katarina Peranić, Chairwomen of the German Foundation for Civil Engagement and Volunteering

15:30 – 15:40

Protection of persons displaced across borders in the context of disasters and the adverse effects of climate change: Good practices to support the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees 

Speaker: Prof. Walter Kaelin, Envoy of the Chair of the Platform on Disaster Displacement

15:40 – 15:50

Running in Solidarity

Speaker: Mr. Graham Clifford, Sanctuary Runners

15:50 – 16:00

Pathways to Progress for Refugees

Speaker: Ms. Jeanne McDonagh, Open Doors
 

15:00-18:00 | Plenary session, continued

  • Room: Details to be provided 
  • Languages available: Details to be provided

GCR in Action: Multi-stakeholder pledge announcements

Plenary interventions on burden- and responsibility-sharing

15:00-16:30 | Parallel high-level events

Concurrent in-depth panel discussion sessions on the key themes of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Please note that some events have adjusted timings. For the exact timing of each event, kindly refer to the event details. 

Advancing Localization in Displacement and Statelessness Responses

Time: 15:00-16:30
Room: W
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81725190836 

Speakers: 

  • Hon. Victoria Businge Rusoke, State Minister for Local Government, Ministry of Local Government, Government of Uganda
  • Ms. Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Isaac Fokuo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Amahoro Coalition
  • Dr. Nur Incetahtacı, Board Member, SENED
  • Mr. Alper Küçük, Director General for International Affairs and Migration Services, Turkish Red Crescent
  • Mr. KAM Morshed, Senior Director, Advocacy, Innovation and MEAL, BRAC Bangladesh
  • Mr. Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies
  • Ms. Fati N'Zi-Hassane, Oxfam in Africa Director, Oxfam International
  • Ms. Nathalie Olijslager, Director, Department for Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid, Government of the Netherlands (Kingdom of)
  • Ms. Cecile Pango, Founder and Director, Women for Action
  • Ms. Susana Raffalli, Senior Humanitarian Advisor, Caritas Venezuela
  • Ms. Taban Shorech, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Lotus Flower
Digital Protection: Hate Speech and Dis/Misinformation

Time: 15:00-16:30
Room: X
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81621107126 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Abdullahi Mire, UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award’s 2023 Global Laureate

Speakers:

  • Mr. Santiago de la Moro, Managing Director, Google Global Partnerships, Google
  • Ms. Alice Nderitu, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention
  • Mr. Ally Ntumba, Refugee Delegate to the Global Refugee Forum
  • Ms. Joelle Rizk, Senior Advisor on Digital Risks, ICRC Protection Department, International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Ms. Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner-Protection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Kjetil Velvi, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion, Government of Norway
  • Ms. Zahra Walet Mohamed, Refugee Delegate to the Global Refugee Forum
The GCR in Action in the Sudan Emergency – Early Development Responses to a Regional Refugee Crisis

Time: 15:00-16:30
Room: V
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82844251221 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Speakers: 

  • Ambassador Hassan Hamid Hassan Hamid, Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations Office in Geneva
  • H.E Minister Albino Akol Atak, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of South Sudan
  • Ambassador Dr. Jean Pierre Baptiste, Permanent Representative of Chad to the United Nations Office in Geneva
  • Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Nations Office in Geneva
  • Dr. Yero Baldeh, Director of the Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS), African Development Bank
  • Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director, Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace, European Union International Partnerships
  • Mr. Abdi Abdullahi, Manager – Resilience and Fragility Division, Islamic Development Bank
The Role of Islamic Philanthropy Institutions in the Humanitarian Response to Displacement Crises

Time: 15:00-16:30
Room: K
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84222472411 

Moderators: 

  • Dr. Hana Omar, Acting Director of Partnerships and International relations, KS Relief ​ 

  • Ms. Şafak Pavey, Senior Adviser, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Speakers: 

  • Dr. Majed Al Azmi, Director General, Zakat House of Kuwait 
  • Mr. Jamal Al Nouri, Chairman, Sheikh Abdullah Al Nouri Charity Society 
  • Dr. Abdulkareem Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives 
  • Mr. Abdel Wahab Al Shehri, Assistant Secretary General, Muslim World League 

  • Mr. Badr Al Sumait, General Manager, The International Islamic Charity Organization

  • Dr. Saleh I. Babear, Assistant Secretary General, World Assembly of Muslim Youth

  • Ms. Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

  • Dr. Ayedh Dabsan Al Qahtani​, Chief Executive Officer, Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanity

  • Mr. Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor and Regional Representative to the GCC, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

  • Mr. Muhd Muhammad Faizal Othman, Chief Executive Officer, Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation

Official linked events

A range of linked events were also held throughout the day in locations across Geneva as part of the official Global Refugee Forum 2023 programme.

View linked events for Thursday 14 December

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