Reflections from the Global Refugee Forum: The Power of Collective Action

In mid-December, WRC, along with the Global Refugee Youth Network (GRYN) and the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights (GCENR), participated in the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Progress Review in Geneva. A UNHCR-led conference focused on improving support for refugees and the communities that host them, it was an important and productive international gathering. A few highlights:  

• WRC moderated and co-hosted an informal reception, along with GRYN, the International Council for Voluntary Agencies, and Human Rights First, to discuss creative ways to move beyond pledges on paper, to ensure practical action is taken to protect refugees. Participants welcomed the opportunity to discuss with stakeholders how to address the challenges facing refugee protection, particularly in a time of drastic funding cuts. These cuts must not allow refugee protection to be deprioritized. Finding solutions by listening to refugees and stateless persons, who know best what works, is essential. Working together collectively, instead of competing for funds and recognition, is particularly crucial at this time. 

• GCENR, along with several other organizations and UN agencies, co-sponsored the event, “Solutions to Statelessness.” It focused on joint action to end statelessness and discriminatory nationality laws, including the recent momentum for solutions, further steps needed, and the role of impacted activists, civil society, states, and UN agencies to achieve equal nationality rights for all. Notably, GCENR sponsored several impacted activists to attend the GRF Progress Review, in alignment with our shared commitment to center the voices, elevate the advocacy messages, and increase the agency of impacted women and youth. GCENR leveraged this opportunity to highlight the importance of advancing gender-equal nationality rights during this critical moment of transition in Syria. These messages, championed by two impacted activists sponsored to attend the GRF Progress Review as part of GCENR’s delegation, will be an area of focus in the year ahead, including at GCENR’s upcoming high-level event at the UN’s 70th Commission on the Status of Women.

• WRC co-hosted, along with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, International Institute for Environment and Development, Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative, Refugees International, and Global Cities Hub, a session on how municipal leaders can advance urban refugees’ inclusion. With 60% of refugees now living in urban areas for extended periods, humanitarian and development actors must tailor their approaches to the reality of the world’s towns and cities, shifting away from a traditional focus on camps and rural areas. The event explored how to achieve this shift in practice, by empowering cities to lead protection and socio-economic inclusion for refugees. 

• The Global Refugee Youth Network (GRYN), Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Tertiary Refugee Student Network (TRSN), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) co-hosted a side event at the R-SPACE, exploring how refugee-led innovation is reshaping education, leadership, and advocacy across all levels of the refugee response system. During the side event, GRYN launched a policy guide, “Financing Refugee Youth Leadership,” highlighting practical pathways for donors to provide flexible funding to refugee youth-led organizations. The guide emphasizes the critical role that refugee youth can play in humanitarian response with the right partnerships.  

• The event, “Upholding the Refugee Convention: A Multi-Stakeholder Call to Action,” brought stakeholders together to highlight the continued relevance of the Refugee Convention, given its 75th anniversary in 2026. WRC co-hosted the event with numerous States and NGOs and provided closing remarks. Preparations to mark the anniversary will continue into 2026. 

The Progress Review was not simply an opportunity to share ideas and expertise with peers in our field. We left the conference with deeper relationships, exciting new possibilities for collaboration, refreshed energy for the work ahead, and renewed faith in the power of our collective action.