The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in collaboration with the UNCHR held a workshop in Maritime Hotel, Berlin, Germany from 31st August to 1st September, 2019. The purpose of the Workshop was to bring together Europe-wide Rights organisations and collate their constructive views on problems of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants for onward transmission to the UN’s annual session taking place in Geneva, Switzerland this year.
A few years ago, the international community agreed to a humane and holistic approach towards issues of refugees and migration which led to two Global Compacts, the one dealing with the former, ie., the refugees and other dealing with the latter, ie., migration. This is also known as the New York Declaration. In December 2018, the New York Declaration was adopted by the UN General Assembly in New York. The Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact on Migration are, thus, non-binding international agreements which have been adopted by almost all the UN member states. The UN also agreed to hold sessions on them every four years, starting from December 2019 where the First Global Refugee Forum will take place in Geneva, Switzerland on 17th and 18th December.
The Berlin Workshop attracted 24 short-listed representatives of the Europe-wide Rights organisations which included participation from across EU zone.
The Workshop participants presented ideas which commonly affect asylum-seekers and refugees including protection, education, jobs/livelihood and devised solutions around them.
Hazara United Movement (HUM), United Kingdom 