“The State of the World’s Refugees : In Search of Solidarity”

Mr. Fasel,
Mr. Guterres,
Ambassadors,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to welcome you for this exhibition. I would particularly like to thank Mr. Guterres, High Commissioner for Refugees and Ambassador Fasel and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland for the organization of this event.

It is fitting that we open this exhibition today, on the first day of the High Commissioner’s annual Dialogue on Protection Challenges. This Dialogue serves as the central forum for the global Protection debate. I am pleased that this discussion is taking place at the Palais des Nations. Geneva, as the headquarters of humanitarian action, human rights, development and migration issues, is an ideal location for this meeting. This year, the Dialogue focuses on the importance of faith in vulnerable communities, and the role and influence of faith communities and faith-based organizations in protection.

The session provides the opportunity for an in-depth exploration of the different modalities used by UNHCR to address the needs of displaced people. In this way, the exhibition also looks at the agency’s innovative practices and approaches, as well as broader trends regarding the state of the world’s refugees since 2006.

As we have seen in the past six years, trends are shifting. The number of people lacking full state protection continues to grow. Within this group, the proportion of internally displaced people is rising. Global social and economic trends indicate that displacement will continue to grow in the next decade, exacerbated by a number of factors, including conflict, population growth, urbanization, natural disasters and climate change, among others. This will present ever- increasing challenges for UNHCR, and the United Nations system as a whole.

More than ever, it is clear that support is required from states, from the international community, from civil society, and from communities and individuals to meet these challenges in forced displacement. I am pleased that we are able to highlight these challenges through this exhibition here at the Palais des Nations, and hope that it encourages a strengthened solidarity from the international community in Geneva.

Thank you and I wish you an excellent evening.