Global Compact on Refugees
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| Global Compact on Refugees | |
|---|---|
| Name | Global Compact on Refugees |
| Type | International agreement |
| Adopted | 17 December 2018 |
| Adopted by | United Nations General Assembly |
| Parties | States, United Nations agencies, regional organizations |
| Language | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish |
Global Compact on Refugees The Global Compact on Refugees is an international framework adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018 to strengthen the international response to large movements of refugees and protracted refugee situations. It builds on the principles of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees while linking to processes such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. The Compact seeks to enhance burden- and responsibility-sharing among States, United Nations agencies, regional bodies, and civil society through practical measures, partnerships, and predictable support.
Background and development
The Compact emerged from negotiations initiated after the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants by the United Nations General Assembly in 2016, following mass movements linked to crises such as the Syrian civil war, the Afghan conflict, the South Sudanese Civil War, and displacement from the Lake Chad Basin and the Venezuelan crisis. Key actors in the drafting process included the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Secretary-General, the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme, and regional organizations such as the African Union and the European Union. Negotiations involved States like Germany, Canada, Uganda, Jordan, and Lebanon alongside international NGOs such as International Rescue Committee, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Save the Children. The Compact was informally negotiated in forums including the UNHCR Dialogue series, High-Level Plenary Meetings at the United Nations, and consultations with stakeholders including International Organization for Migration and the World Bank.
Objectives and key principles
The Compact's objectives draw on existing international instruments such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing safe access to territory, protection against refoulement as codified in the Convention Against Torture, and support for durable solutions including voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement to third countries such as United States, Canada, Australia, and Sweden. Key principles include burden- and responsibility-sharing as reflected in mechanisms like the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and cooperation with regional arrangements such as the European Council on Refugees and Exiles and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. The Compact recommends engagement with development actors including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme to align refugee response with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Implementation framework and responsibilities
Implementation rests on coordinated roles for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, States, regional organizations such as the African Union Commission, and financial institutions including the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and multilateral development banks like the Asian Development Bank. The Compact advocates tools like the Global Refugee Forum, national refugee response plans, and partnership platforms involving International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, World Food Programme, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and humanitarian NGOs like Oxfam International and Mercy Corps. It promotes instruments such as concessional financing, private sector engagement with corporations like Microsoft, Unilever, and Mastercard, and mechanisms for resettlement cooperation among States including the United Kingdom and Norway. Legal actors like the International Criminal Court and human rights bodies including the Human Rights Council contribute to accountability dimensions.
Reception and critiques
Reception has been mixed: proponents such as UNHCR and States like Canada and Germany hailed the Compact as a milestone for the International Refugee Regime, while critics including some Members of the European Parliament and national governments in Central Europe questioned its impact on sovereignty and migration control. Humanitarian organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch praised protection emphasis but flagged shortcomings in binding commitments and financing predictability. Academics at institutions like Oxford University, Harvard University, and the London School of Economics have debated its normative strength compared with the 1951 Refugee Convention, while think tanks such as Chatham House and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analyzed operational challenges. Regional responses varied: Lebanon and Jordan stressed urgent needs for support, whereas Australia and Hungary voiced reservations about implications for border policies.
Impact and case studies
The Compact has influenced national and regional practices in contexts including Uganda’s progressive refugee policy, Jordan’s host community initiatives, Colombia’s response to the Venezuelan migration crisis, and multi-stakeholder approaches in Kenya and Ethiopia. The Global Refugee Forum convened stakeholders from States such as France and Ethiopia to announce pledges on resettlement, development financing, and education partnerships involving UNESCO and UNICEF. Financial engagements by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank have supported livelihood programs linked to the Compact in countries like Bangladesh hosting Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and in Turkey receiving Syrian refugees. Evaluations by organizations including Proximity International and reports from UNHCR highlight mixed results: improved coordination in some contexts contrasted with limited new durable resettlement places from traditional donors such as the United States and Germany.
Monitoring, review, and follow-up
Monitoring and review mechanisms include the quadrennial Global Refugee Forum, stocktaking exercises led by UNHCR, and engagement with the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. Follow-up involves reporting by States, coordination with development banks like the World Bank and the African Development Bank, and inputs from civil society actors such as Refugees International and Jesuit Refugee Service. The Compact encourages indicators aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and seeks periodic assessments to inform pledges, financing, and operational adjustments involving stakeholders including IFRC, IOM, and regional bodies like the Economic Community of West African States.