PSI joins civil society in welcoming the UN Global Compact on Refugees

Its four key objectives are to:

• 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 GCR consists of the comprehensive refugee response framework (CRRF) and a programme of action.

Public service workers are at the frontlines in providing vital public services to refugees, from emergency response, reception, shelter, water, sanitation, health care, education and social services. Together with other civil society organisations, PSI welcomes the adoption of the GCR in protecting the human rights of refugees and ensuring their access to quality public services, particularly for women and children, who make up half of the total refugee population. With poorer countries hosting 80% of the world’s refugees, the GCR aims to ease the pressure on these host countries and promote responsibility-sharing among UN member states.  

• Statement of the Initiative on the Rights of the Child in the Global Compacts (PSI is a member of the Initiative)
• NGO Joint Messages at the 2018 UNHCR High Commissioner’s Dialogue on the theme “Protecting and assisting refugees and other forcibly displaced persons in urban settings: engaging with cities.’’ (18-19 December 2018, Palais des Nations, Geneva)