Fifth Thematic Session Of The Global Compact on refugees - panel 2: how can we ensure a whole of society response?

NRV Intervention - MOhammed Badran 

Your Excellencies, 

As refugee leaders from NRV, we strongly believe in the ‘whole-of-society approach’. Rather than being dependent on our hosts’ aid and generosity, refugee-led initiatives empower us to take action.

The current system creates a cycle of dependency. This cycle limits opportunities for refugees with the agency to succeed, and lift others out of vulnerable situations into self-reliance. Refugee-led initiatives can help to reverse this trend.

Throughout my experience in Syrian Volunteers in the Netherlands, a refugee -led organization, refugees can create their own initiatives when they are given the space to do so.

Chair, we urge all not to rob refugees of their agency, by keeping them in a situation of dependency. 

States should take ownership of refugee initiatives and advocate for it.

Finally, we remind all, that states took a commitment towards a ‘whole-of-society approach’ in the New York Declaration point 69 which is including us in the consultations. 

On this basis, we urge you all to continue to uphold this commitment in 2018. 

Thank you very much.