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WCC/UN High Level Conference: Refugee Crisis in Europe

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WCC/UN High Level Conference: Refugee Crisis in Europe WCC/UN High Level Conference: Refugee Crisis in Europe 18-19 January 2016 - Ecumenical Centre, Geneva Photo: Paul Jeffrey Hosted by the World Council of Churches in partnership with UNICEF, UNFPA and UNHCR 2 PROGRAMME Expected outcomes: • Develop clear commitments to coordinated responses in all areas - from the implementation of migration and integration policies to the creation of adequate mechanisms for orderly and safe refugee move- ments across Europe. • Address the whole trajectory of the population movements, from points of origin (root causes), to points of transit, and ultimate des- tination. • Prioritise on the integration of migrants into civil society, reli- gious communities and socio-cultural institutions - people fleeing or driven from their homes should be able to find belonging and build a sense of home at point of reception. Monday 18 January 2016 8.00 Arrival & Registration 8.30 Morning Prayer (Optional. All Welcome) 9.00 Welcome to the Ecumenical Centre Dr Agnes Abuom, WCC Central Committee Moderator Session I: What is at stake and what can we contribute? Moderator: Dr Agnes Abuom Mr Jean Claude Legrand (Regional Office for CEE/CIS Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF) Ms Alanna Armitage (Director, UNFPA Liaison Office) Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit (WCC General Secretary) 3 10.00 Keynote: Dr Thomas de Maizière Minister of the Interior Federal Republic of Germany ‘The necessity for cohesive collaboration in the responses to the refugee crisis and to migration itself.’ 10.30 Responders: Mr Volker Türk, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection H.E. Ambassador Alexandros Alexandris, Permanent Representative to the UN Archbishop Dr Antje Jackelén, Church of Sweden 11.00 Break (Open Press Release) 11.30 Session II: Perspectives on Current Realities Moderator: Bishop Dr Mary Ann Swenson, WCC Central Committee Vice-moderator Overview: Mr Xavier Creach, UNHCR At Origin: Lebanon: Dr Tarek Mitri, American University of Beirut (root causes and constructive responses to address them for short & long terms) At Transit: Greece: H.E. Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia and Fil- adelfia Italy: Dr Paolo Naso, Programme Executive of the Italian Protestand Federation (urgent challenges and constructive responses for effective support at transit) At Reception: Italy: Msgr Marco Gnavi, Community of Sant’Egidio Norway: Ambassador Knut Vollebaek, Church of Norway (urgent issues and effective responses in legal recognition and integration) 4 1.00 Lunch 2.00 Session III: Discerning Good Practice Moderator: Ms Liza Barrie, UNICEF Overview: Rev. Martin Junge, Lutheran World Federation, LWF Panelists: Mr David Anthony, UNICEF Mr Christer Lænkholm, ACT Alliance/DanChurchAid HG Bishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox, UK Ms Doina Bologa, UNFPA Bosnia & Herzegovina 3.30 Break 4.00 Session IV: Discerning Ways Forward Moderator: Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Evangelical Church in Germany Mr Leonard Doyle, International Organisation for Migration, IOM Mr Nicholas Grisewood, International Labour Organization, ILO Ms Pauliina Parhiala, ACT Alliance Mr Stig Lundberg, Church of Sweden 5.00 Presentation: Draft Statement of Call to Coordinated Action (SCCA) 6.00 Cocktail Reception 5 Tuesday 19 January 2016 8.45 Morning Prayer (Optional. All Welcome) 9.00 Session V: Articulating Coordinated Responses re Countries of Origin Moderator: Rev. Fr Dr Michel Jalakh, Middle East Council of Churches Mr Samer Laham, Middle East Council of Churches, MECC Dr Enshrah Ahmed, UNFPA Arab States Regional Office Dr Manuel Carballo, International Centre for Migration, Health and Development, ICMHD 10.00 Plenary Discussion 10.30 Break 11.00 Session VI: Articulating Coordinated Responses re Countries of Transit (safe corridors/safe passage are key emphases) Moderator: Dr Enshrah Ahmed, UNFPA Mr Dragan Makojevic, Philanthropy-Humanitarian Organization of the Serbian Orthodox Church Mr Massimo Gnone, Waldensian Church Ms Doris Peschke, Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) 12.00 Plenary Discussion 1.00 Lunch 2.00 Session VII: Articulating Coordinated Responses re Countries of Reception Moderator: Dr Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, Bread for the World Mr Jasvir Singh, Faiths Forum for London, UK 6 Ms Dóra Kanizsai-Nagy, Reformed Church in Hungary - Refugee Ministry H.E. Ambassador Gnesa, Department for Foreign Affairs, Switzerland Msgr Robinson Wijeisnghe, Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (PCPCMI) 3.00 Plenary Discussion 3.30 Break 4.00 Session VIII: Statement of Call to Coordinated Action (SCCA) for a Multi-Stakeholder Response to the European Refugee Crisis Joint Moderators: Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC & Mr Volker Türk, UNHCR Drafting Group: Ms Janice Marshall, UNHCR Dr Wilma Doenens, UNFPA Mr David Anthony, UNICEF Dr Fulata Moyo, WCC Mr Peter Prove, WCC Mr Isaiah Toroitich, ACT Alliance; 5.15 Closing Remarks [UNICEF, UNFPA, WCC, UNHCR] 5.30 Close 7 Extract from concept note Rationale: In the context of the complex refugee and migrant crisis in Europe there is a critical and urgent need for coordinated collective responses. Such responses must be underpinned by universal princi- ples of international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, and based on the eight-point agenda for action presented to the UN General Assembly’s 2013 High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (A/68/190). Such a cohesive and holistic approach is absolutely necessary to ensure: • efficient migration management vital for the protection of refu- gees, and for providing safe and legal channels for refugee movements and support across Europe • better cooperation between countries of origin, transit and re- ception • effective mobilization of all available material, human, and moral resources and values in the civil society and in faith-based communities to shape life-giving practical responses to the refugee crisis Indeed, the better coordinated our efforts the better our chances at pre- serving life, being mindful that women and children are among the most vulnerable. Objective: The high level conference is an opportunity for the various agencies, organisations, and actors, bringing together different humani- tarian policy areas on migration and refugee flows, to discern common actions needed to address the refugee crisis. The outcome of the confer- ence must be an enhanced cooperation across these areas, including the implementation of migration and integration policies, and the creation of adequate mechanisms for orderly and safe refugee movements across Europe. The conference must address the whole trajectory of the popula- tion movements, from points of origin (root causes), to points of transit, and ultimate destination..
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