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Full programme for Wednesday 13 December

Wednesday 13 December

9:00 - 13:00 | Plenary session

  • Room: ABC

Special Performance

  • Ms. Cate Blanchett, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
  • Mr. Ke Huy Quan, Oscar-winning actor and former refugee

Opening of the Global Refugee Forum by Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Opening remarks by the Co-Hosts

  • Ms. Christine Schraner Burgener, State Secretary for Migration, Government of Switzerland

  • Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Keynote address by His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Statements by the other Co-Convenors of the Global Refugee Forum 2023

  • Her Excellency Ms. Francia Elena Márquez Mina, Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia

  • Her Excellency Ms. Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda

  • Her Excellency Ms. Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France

  • Her Excellency Ms. Kamikawa Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

Broadening the Base of Support

  • Moderator: Ms. Aisha KHURRAM, refugee student leader and member of the Global Compact on Refugees Education Alliance
  • H.E. Mr. Yasin Ekrem Serim, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Türkiye

  • Ms. Adhieu Achuil Dhieu, Representative of MonyQudow and Member of UNHCR’s Advisory Board of Organizations led by Forcibly Displaced and Stateless Persons delivering the refugee statemen

  • Mr. Thomas BACH, President, International Olympic Committee

  • Ms. Elena BOURGANSKAIA, Vice President of Corporate Support, International Finance Cooperation, World Bank Group

  • Mr. Kam MORSHED, Senior Director, BRAC Bangladesh

  • Mr. Koji YANAI, Director, Fast Retailing Company, Ltd

  • The Hon. Uzra ZEYA, Under Secretary of State, United States of America

Plenary Session

Co-chairs:

  • Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Ms. Christine Schraner Burgener, State Secretary for Migration, Government of Switzerland

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.

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

13:30 - 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

Committing to bridge the digital divide present in refugee & refugee-hosting education

Speaker: Ms. Maria Lacadena, Country Manager & Strategic Planning, ProFuturo

13:40 – 13:50

Transforming refugee teachers’ lives: the story of inclusion in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq

Speaker: Mrs. Perwin Arous, Refugee Teacher and Community Outreach Volunteer

13:50 – 14:00

Evidence-based and localized knowledge for refugees’ protection: The Global Academic Interdisciplinary Network

Speakers:

  • Prof. Liliana Jubilut, Co-chair of GAIN, Catholic University of Santos
  • Prof. Geoff Gilbert, Co-Chair of GAIN, University of Essex
  • Prof. James Milner, Co-Chair of GAIN, Project Director, Local Engagement Refugee Research Network, University of Carleton

14:00 – 14:10

Early Lessons Learned from the Duolingo+UNHCR University Access Program

Speaker: Ms. Laura Kaub, Duolingo English Test (DET) + UNHCR University Access Advisor

14:10 – 14:20

Inclusive policy making: lessons from stateless activists

Speaker: Ms. Noor Azizah, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network and Ms. Maha Mamo, Stateless Activist

14:20 – 14:30

Refugee Qualifications

Speaker: Mr. Villano Qiriazi, Head, Education Department, Council of Europe

14:30 – 14:40

Instant Network Schools: Improving learning for refugee & host community students & teachers

Speaker: Mr. Joakim Reiter, Chief External & Corporate Affairs Officer, Vodafone

14:40 – 14:50

The IFC-UNHCR Partnership and the Role of the Private Sector

Speaker: Mr. Michel M Botzung, Head of the IFC - UNHCR Joint Initiative

14:50 – 15:00

Prevention and protection: incidence of sexual violence among recently arrived asylum-seeking women in France

Speaker: Dr Jeremy Khouani, General Practitioner and researcher

15:00 – 15:10

National statistics on refugees and why they matter

Speaker: Mr Charles Ogolla, Head of Statistics at the IGAD Secretariat

15:10 – 15:20

A magic tool: Sport for Social Inclusion

Speaker: Associate Professor Mr. Hakan DULKADİROĞLU, Sport for Solidarity Project Coordinator, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Türkiye

15:20 – 15:30

Understanding and Responding to the Heightened Risks of Gender-Based Violence During Forced Displacement and Integration with Host Communities – World Bank Research and Operations

Speaker: Mr. Manuel Contreras Urbina, Global Lead Gender-based violence World Bank

 15:30 – 15:40

Alternatives to Immigration Detention for refugees and migrants

Speaker: Ms. Carolina Gottardo, Executive Director of the International Detention Coalition

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. 

Achieving health and wellbeing for all: strengthening health systems and mental health & psychosocial support for refugees and host communities

Time: 15:15–17:30
Room: V
Interpretation: English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84223122385 

Moderators:

  • Dr. Waheed Arian, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Arian Wellbeing

  • Ms. Danielle de la Fuente, Chief Executive Officer, Amal Alliance

  • Ms. Lara-Zuzan Golesorkhi, Executive Director of the Center for Migration, Gender and Justice

Speakers:

  • Mr. Niels Annen, Parliamentary Secretary of State, Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Government of Germany

  • Mr. Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, United Nations Children Fund

  • H.R.H. Infanta Doña Cristina de Borbón, Director of International Programmes, La Caixa Foundation

  • Ms. Danielle De La Fuente, Chief Executive Officer, Amal Alliance

  • Dr. Lara-Zuzan Golesorkhi, Executive Director, Center for Migration, Gender and Justice 

  • Dr. Zakira Hekmat, Director, Afghan Refugees Solidarity Association

  • Mr. David Karorero, Burundian Youth for a Brighter Future

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

  • Dr. Abelkrim Meziane Belfkih, Secretary General, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Government of Morocco

  • Dr. Santino Severoni, Director of Health and Migration, World Health Organization

  • Dr. Paul Spiegel, Director, Johns Hopkins University Center for Humanitarian Health

  • Mr. Paul St. John Frisoli, Senior Program Specialist, Lego Foundation

  • Ms. Claire Whitney, Senior Global MHPSS Advisor, International Medical Corps 

Fostering Conducive Conditions for Safe and Dignified Return through Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention

Time: 15:30-17:00
Room: W
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86012889124 

Moderator:

  • Ms. Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs

Speakers:

  • H.E. Ms. Francia Elena Márquez Mina, Vice President, Government of Colombia
  • Mr. Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, Deputy Foreign Minister, Government of Norway 

  • Amb. Dr. Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Government of Egypt

  • Ms. Nyakuma Peter Gatksuoth Riak, Founder, Together South Sudan
  • Mr. Carlos Andrés Pérez Berrio, Director, Asociación Urabá Global
  • Ms. Elizabeth Tan, Director, Division of International Protection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Breaking Barriers: Realising the Potential of Sport for Inclusion and Protection

Time: 15:30-17:00
Room: K
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85009311174 

Moderator:

  • Ms. Benny Bonsu, Director of Daily Content at Olympics.com

Speakers:

  • Ms. Masoma Ali Zada, Olympic cyclist, Refugee Olympic Team
  • Mr. Thomas Bach, President, International Olympic Committee
  • Mr. Andrew Baker, Chief External Affairs Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee
  • H.R.H Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Al Saud, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saudi Esports Federation
  • Mr. Martin Dururu, President, Tambai Zimbabwe   
  • Mr. David Evangelista, President and Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, Special Olympics International
  • Mr. Marc Eychenne, Non-Live Senior Director, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe
  • Ms. Sally-Ann Jennifer Fischer, Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies, German Sport University Cologne
  • Mr. Riccardo Fraccari, President, World Baseball Softball Confederation
  • Ms. Katrin Grafarend, Head of International Relations, German Olympic Sports Federation
  • The Honourable Kazembe Kazembe, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Government of Zimbabwe
  • Ms. Julia Lambrecht, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Scort Foundation
  • Ms. Kristina Malloy, Chief Membership and Impact Officer, International Paralympic Committee
  • Ms. Michelle Manks, Senior Technical Advisor – Durable Solutions for Refugees, World University Service of Canada
  • Ms. Yusra Mardini, Founder, Yusra Mardini Foundation and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
  • Mr. Gerald Mballe, Special Advisor for Unified Refugee Programmes, Special Olympics International
  • Mr. André Mendes, Senior Manager, Future Talent Programs, Adidas
  • Mr. Elijah Njawuzi Mwebaza, Administrator, Uganda Olympic Committee
  • Ms. Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Government of France
  • Mr. Laurent Overney, Delegate, Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation Office
  • Ms. Khalida Popal, Founder and Director, Girl Power Foundation
  • Dr. Marta Segú Estruch, Executive Director, Football Club Barcelona Foundation
  • Ms. Elizabeth Taylor Jay, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Colombia
  • Ms. Ana Luiza Thompson-Flores Representative, Director, Liaison Office in Geneva for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  • Ms. Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner-Protection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Michele Uva, Director of Social & Environmental Sustainability, Union of European Football Associations
SSAR Support Platform: The Afghanistan Situation

Time: 15:30-17:00
Room: L
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81356526391 

Moderator:

  • Ms. Kathy Gannon, Former News Director for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Associated Press

Speakers: 

  • H.E. Asif Ali Khan Durrani, Special Envoy on Afghanistan, Government of Pakistan (Islamic Republic of)
  • Mr. Daniel Endres, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
  • Dr. Abdollah Mobini, Deputy Minister of Interior and Head of the National Organization for Migration, Government of Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  • H.E. Shaheen Al-Kaabi, Director of International Cooperation, Government of Qatar
  • Ms. Mahbouba Seraj, Executive Director, Afghan Women Skills Development Center
  • Ms. Sarah Wahedi, Founder, Ehtesab Afghanistan
Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, and Solutions

Time: 15:30-17:00
Room:  X
Interpretation: English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89973037475 

Moderator:

  • Ms. Julieta Valls Noyes, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Government of the United States of America

Speakers:

  • Ms. Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Government of the United States of America
  • Ms. Scarlet Cronin, Vice President for Americas & Global Strategy, Tent Foundation
  • Ms. Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director, President's Alliance for Higher Education and Migration
  • Ms. Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu, Head of Fragility/Africa, International Finance Corporation
  • Mr. Danny Cutherell, Africa Director, Refugee Investment Network
  • Mr. Emma Yaaka, U.S. Refugee Advisory Board
  • Ms. Rania Ahmed, Director of Peace & Development Coordination, International Organization for Migration
  • Mr. Larry Sacks, Chief Development Officer, Development Finance Corporation
Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Time: 15:30-17:00
Room: P
Languages available: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84195803358 

Moderator: 

  • Ms. Gianina Marquez Olivera, Co-Founder, Quinta Ola, Peru

Speakers:

  • Ms. Shaza Alrihawi, Refugee Delegate & Member, Action Network of Forced Displacement and Co-Founder, Global Refugee Network
  • Ms. Deike Potzel, Director General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilisation, Peace Building and Humanitarian Assistance, Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Government of Germany
  • Mr. Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Government of Moldova
  • Ms. Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • H.E. Ms. Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France
  • Mr. Andrew Giles, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Government of Australia
  • Ms. Faridah Luanda, Gender and Diversity Coordinator for Global Refugee Youth Network
  • Ms. Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, Secrétaire d'État auprès du Ministre de l'Intérieur et des Outre-mer, Chargée de la Citoyenneté et de la ville
  • Mr. Simon Manley, Permanent Representative, Mission to the WTO, UN and other international organisations in Geneva, Government of the United Kingdom
  • Ms. Mary Tal, Founder, Whole World Women Association
  • Ms. Luz Vidal Huiriqueo, Undersecretary of Women and General Equity, Government of Chile
  • Ms. Beth Delaney, Humanitarian Coordinator and Head of Humanitarian Division, Department of Foreign Affairs, Australia
  • Ms. Marguerite Barankitse, Founder of Maison Shalom
Supporting Refugees in Middle-Income Countries: Spotlight on the Global Concessional Financing Facility

Time: 18:00-19:00
Room: K
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84041360838 

Speakers:

  • Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, President, Japan International Cooperation Agency
  • Mr. Franck Bousquet, Deputy Director, International Monetary Fund Representative, Government of Jordan
  • Mr. Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Government of Moldova
  • Ms. Pascalle Grotenhuis, Director-General for International Cooperation

  • Ms. Soukeyna Kane, Director for the Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group, The World Bank

  • Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner-Operations United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Ms. Elizabeth Taylor Jay, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Colombia
  • H.E. Zeina Toukan, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Government of Jordan

Evening | Nansen Refugee Award ceremony and reception

(by invitation only)

Established in 1954, the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award honours individuals, groups and organizations who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect refugees, as well as internally displaced and stateless people.

Evening | Nansen Refugee Award ceremony and reception

(By invitation only)

Established in 1954, the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award honours individuals, groups and organizations who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect refugees, as well as internally displaced and stateless people.

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