fbpx
Go to Press Releases library
Press Releases

Media Advisory: WRC at 71st UN General Assembly Events

As world leaders gather at the United Nations for the first high-level summit on Refugess and migrants, the Women’s refugee commission asserts that all responses to refugees and migrants must protect the rights and improve the lives of women, children, and youth.

 

WHAT: New York, NY – On Monday, September 19, 2016, the 71st UN General Assembly will convene Heads of State and leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector at the first high-level summit focused on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants. This landmark meeting aims to bring countries together behind a more humane and coordinated approach.

WHEN: Friday, September 16th through Tuesday, September 20th. WRC will support the following events listed below:

      • Friday, September 16, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
      • UNHQ, Conference Room 6, New York: http://webtv.un.org/

Advancing the rights, well-being and perspectives of women and girls with disabilities in displacement through development and humanitarian responses

Emma Pearce, Senior Program Officer, Disabilities, will speak during a conference co-sponsored by Permanent Mission of Japan, UN DESA, UNICEF, UN WOMEN, International Disability Alliance, Women’s Refugee Commission, Human Rights Watch, and Handicap International.


UN Summit to Address Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants

Foni Joyce, a young South Sudanese refugee woman supported by WRC, will speak on Round Table One, focused on “Addressing the Large Movements of Refugees” in Conference Room 2 at 10:00 a.m.

Mina Jaf, a Kurdish refugee woman, recipient of WRC’s 2016 Voices of Courage Award, will speak at the High-Level Civil Society Event in Conference Room 7 at 10:30 a.m.

Zrinka Bralo, WRC Board Member and CEO of Migrants Organize, will speak at the High-Level Civil Society Event in Conference Room 7 at 10:30 a.m.


      • Monday, 19 September, 1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
      • Trygve Lie Center for Peace, Security & Development
      • International Peace Institute
      • 777 United Nations Plaza, 12th Floor (Corner of 1st Avenue and 44th Street), New York

Transforming Humanitarian Action with and for Young People: The New York Launch of the Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action

Foni Joyce, a young South Sudanese refugee woman supported by WRC, will address the urgency for inclusion of refugee youth in policy and program decisions- citing the new Global Refugee Youth Consultations Report.


      • Tuesday, 20 September, 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
      • Center for Migration Studies, 307 East 60th Street, 6th Floor, New York

Shadow Summit: The U.S. Response to Central American Refugees
The Shadow Summit is co-Sponsored by Alianza Americas, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS), Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), the Latin America Working Group (LAWG) and the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC).

Katharina Obser, WRC Senior Program Officer, Migrant Rights & Justice Program, will participate in a panel discussion on the U.S. policy responses to Central American refugees.


      • Tuesday, 20 September, 1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
      • Canadian Mission to the UN, 885 2nd Ave, New York

Women and Girls’ Perspectives on the Refugee and Migrants Summits
This side event is co-sponsored by CARE, The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC), the Women’s International league for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), and the Canadian Mission to the UN

Zrinka Bralo, WRC Board Member and CEO of Migrants Organize, will share her insights from the frontlines of the refugee and migrant crisis with senior policymakers.

Mina Jaf, a Kurdish refugee woman, recipient of WRC’s 2016 Voices of Courage Award, will share her insights from the frontlines of the refugee and migrant crisis with senior policymakers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS CONTACT:
Joan Timoney +1 202 750 8599, JoanT@wrcommission.org