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24.05.18

Sharedresponsibility,sharedhumanityCommuniquéfromtheInternationalRefugeeCongress2018PreambleWe,156participants,representing98diverseinstitutionsfrom29countries,includingrefugee-led and host community civil society organisations and initiatives, academia, think tanks,municipalitiesand theprivate sector came together in Istanbul for the InternationalRefugeeCongresson10-11May2018.Thegathering in Istanbuldrewonthecontributionsofcloseto600organizations from47countries,whichparticipated inconsultations thatwereheldoverthepast sixmonths leading to theCongress. Thispreparationprocessand themeeting itselfprovided an important platform to demonstrate our shared quest for equal participation indecisionmakingprocessesatall levels,aswellasourcommoncommitmenttoworktogethertoputthevoicesandaspirationsofrefugeesandhostcommunitiesattheforefrontofpolicyandprogramdevelopment,includingtheGlobalCompactonRefugees(GCR).Therecommendationsthatareincludedinthiscommuniquéconstituteaunanimouscallforallactors to make good on their commitments, to put the equal rights and participation ofrefugeesandhostcommunitiesatthecentreoftheirpolicyandprogramactions,andtoworktogether inunity,collaborationandcoordinationtourgentlyhelptransformthe internationalrefugeesysteminawaythatensuressharedresponsibilityformeetingneedsinabalancedandaccountablemanner.ACallforaNewApproachTheinternationalrefugeesystemisinneedofanewapproachiftheglobalcommunity,withitsdiversityofactors,istorestorehope,advancejustice,andmakeitpossibleforthemillionsofpeopledisplacedthroughouttheworldtoliveindignity,freefromfearandwant.Wecallonallstakeholders to join us in upholding the equal rights of refugees, and nurturing theircapabilities and long-term aspirations. We call for global coordination and solidarity that isbasedontheprincipleofsharedresponsibilityinaddressingrefugeeissues,andanunyieldingcommitmenttoeliminatingthefactorsthatcontinuetoforcepeopletoflee.Theapproachweenvisionisonethat:

• Equitablyandpredictablydistributestheresponsibilityforrespondingtotheneedsofrefugeesandhostcommunitiesamongststates;

• Transformsperceptionsofrefugeesfromsimplerecipientsofaidtoholdersofrights,responsibilities,talents,capabilitiesandaspirations;

• Assures the dignity, equality, and human rights of all refugees – women and men,children and adolescents, elderly and all other groups - irrespective of faith,mentaland physical ability, political view, religion, ethnicity, economic status, sexualorientation,education,classorcountryoforigin;

• Seeks to eliminate the causes of displacement including violent conflict, economicdeprivation, environmental conditions and persecution on the basis of gender,ethnicity,faith,ideology,politicalvieworotherpartsofaperson’sidentity;

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• Produces solutions that are durable, sustainable andmutually beneficial to refugeesandhostcountriesalike;

• Guaranteesrefugeesandhostcommunitiesaseat-at-the-tableatalllevelsofdecision-makingandallstagesofpolicyimplementation;

• Places the needs of women and girls at the forefront of all policy and programdevelopmentandensurestheirfullparticipationindecision-making;

• Enablesself-relianceandbuildsonrefugeecapabilities,experienceandknowledge;• Ensures all actors throughout the international system act with the highest level of

transparencyandaccountability;• Encouragesrespect,inclusion,solidarity,harmonyandunityamongallstakeholders.

Noneofthisispossiblewithoutbroadpoliticalwillatinternational,regional,nationalandlocallevelsandacommitment to significantly raise the standardsandcapabilitiesofactorsacrosstheboardincludinginknowledge,systemsandprocedures.In support of the above, we call for the adoption of an independent and comprehensivemonitoring and evaluation mechanism that is strengthened by gender disaggregated datacollection, documentation of best practices and regular reviewof lessons learned, to ensureeffectivenessandencourageinnovationinrefugeeresponseandmanagementsystems.PrioritiesforImmediateActionWeurgecollectiveactiontorealizethefollowingprioritygoalsinthefivethematicareasthatwere identified through our consultations: guarantees for refugee legal rights and asylum;accesstoqualityservices;durablesolutionsandsharingresponsibilities;increasedandfocusedsupport for displaced women and girls; and representation and participation at all levels ofdecision-making.LegalRightsandAsylumLegal rightsareat thecoreof refugeeprotection.Guaranteeingaccess to these rightswouldshift thedialogue frompeople inneed topeoplewith rights.Buildingstructuresofaccess tolegalrights isfundamentaltoprogressiverefugeepolicy,thepursuitofdurablesolutions,theenjoymentofbasicrightsinasylum,andtheprotectionofrefugees,especiallywomenandgirlsand marginalized groups. Whether residing in countries of first asylum, repatriating tocountries of origin or resettling in other countries, refugees need guarantees for their rightsand freedoms, clarity about their legal status, and access to legal recourse and assistance.Towardsthisend,wecallfor:

• Establishmentoflegalframeworksandmechanismsforaccessandprotectionofrightsat global, regional, national and local levels in line with international laws andstandards;

• Ensured access to asylum and territory as well as to effective, timely and qualityprocedures;

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• Guaranteed access to legal aid, due process and remedy for refugees and asylumseekers,inallstateandnon-stateadjudicationstructuresincludingUNHCR.Ensurethattheappropriatecapacityisinplacetodoso;

• Establishment of independent oversight and monitoring mechanisms to ensure duediligence,maximizeinclusion,andincreaseaccuracyandtransparencyinallasylumandrefugee rights-related procedures. Examplesmay include tiered appeals processes orregularexternalevaluationsbyindependentparties;

• Limiting detention and ensuring least restrictive alternatives guided by liberty as ahuman right; ending the detention of children and other vulnerable populationsthroughprotocolsencompassingthesuperiorityoftheprincipleofthebestinterestsofthechild;

• Creationofspaceforthedirectparticipationofrefugeesandhostcommunitymembersin international andnational legalprocesses relevant to the rights andobligationsofrefugees,includingrelevantUNHCRproceedings;

• Establishment of systems for reporting violations and monitoring compliance at alllevels that link tomechanismssuchasUniversalPeriodicReviewof thehumanrightsrecordsofallUnitedNations’memberstates.

AccesstoServicesIrrespectiveoftheir legalstatusorproofofcertification,all refugeeshavetherighttoaccesspublic services including health and education, as well as employment. This is crucial forfulfillingtheirbasicrights,ensuring lifewithdignityandenablingthemtosettleeffectively inhostcommunities.Neverthelessaccesstotheserights isoften limited,deniedorunavailable.Among other factors, the uneven distribution of responsibility for refugee protection amongcountries, and the reliance of the refugee system on a number of low and middle incomecountries, is straining the capabilities ofmany host countries to provide equitable access togoodqualityservicestohostcommunitiesandrefugeesalike.Giventheprotractednatureofmany refugee situations worldwide and funding gaps across the sector, we believe policychangesareneededtoachieveamoreequitabledivisionofresponsibilitybetweenstatesandother stakeholders with clear responsibilities and accountabilities defined for each actor.Towardthisendwecallfor:

• Collaboration among states who are hosting relatively small numbers of refugees,and/ornothostingrefugees, toextendresponsibilitysharingbeyondtheprovisionofdevelopment and humanitarian assistance. Dialogue with international and regionaleconomicorganizations/forums(suchastheWorldBank,TheNewDevelopmentBank,International Monetary Fund, World Economic Forum, Organisation for EconomicCooperationandDevelopment,andtheG20)andhostcountriesshouldexplorearangeofmeasuresthatcanhelptocreatenationalresourcesandfiscalspaceformajorhostcountriesandenablethemto invest inservices forrefugeesandhostcountriesalike.Thesemeasures could include concessional trade arrangements designed to supportoveralleconomicgrowth;non-conditionalityinaid;countercyclicalloans;andloansinlocalcurrency,amongstothers.Refugee-hostingcountries,withthecollaborationandsupportofotherstates,shouldinturn:

o Guaranteeaccesstogainfulemploymentwithfulllegalprotections;o Provideopportunitiestodevelopskillsmatchingmarketsupplyanddemand,as

wellasincentivesfordevelopmentofsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises,andforthemtohirerefugees;

o Incentivizesectorsthatcanemploybothrefugeesandhostcommunities;

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• Monitoring of the implementation of all rules, regulations and policies related toservice-provision and creation of employment opportunities for refugees and hostcommunities;

• Guaranteed collaborative and coordinated effort with clear, measurable and time-boundtargetstodevelopandimplementpoliciesforallservicesandprogramswithinhostcountries;

• Ensuredaccesstoqualityeducationforallrefugeesandhostcommunitiesregardlessoflegalstatusandpriorcertification.Undercircumstanceswhereformaleducationisnotanoption,ensuringthatcertified,flexible,highqualityand,where

• applicable,accelerated,non-formaleducationissanctionedbystateinstitutionsandthatstudentsofallages,butespeciallyrefugeeyouth,arenotdeprivedofopportunitiestocontinuetheireducationfrompre-schooltohighereducation;

• Ensuredaccesstoqualityhealthcareforallrefugeesandhostcommunitiesinlinewithuniversalhealthcoverage,leavingno-onebehind.

• Building upon the capacity, experience, and professional training of refugees andrefugee-led organizations in all service areas including teachers and healthcareworkers.

• DurableSolutionsandSharingResponsibilityForceddisplacementacrossinternationalbordersisatrecordlevels,andthenumberofpeopleliving in protracted refugee situations is at all-time high. While the provision of immediatehumanitarianassistance is criticalat theoutsetofacrisis, long-termsolutionsareneeded tosupportrefugeesandhostcountries.Manylow-andmiddle-incomecountriesareassumingadisproportionateshareofresponsibilityforhostingrefugeesinrelationtotheireconomicandother resources. We believe policy changes are needed to ensure a more equitable andpredictabledivisionof responsibility between states, improve access to services for refugeesand host communities and expand refugees’ access to long-term, sustainable solutions.Accordinglywecallfor:

• Development of alternative long-term solutions including those that would addressrootcausesofforceddisplacement,andre-confirmtherightofpeopletoseekasyluminanycountryoftheirchoosing;

• Creationofamechanismdesignedtoensureequitableandsystematicdistributionofresponsibility that considers the specific needs of host states and builds on existinglocal strengths and resources. This should be determined through local, national,regional, and international multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder dialogue, includingrefugee-ledandhostcountrycivilsocietyorganisations,municipalitiesandacademia.

• Establishmentofafundedandresourcedmulti-stakeholderaccountabilitymechanismto include civil society, international financial institutions, think tanks,municipalities,refugee-led and host community organisations, including women’s organisations, toshapetheimplementationoftheProgrammeofAction;

• Ensured collaboration and cooperation of middle- and higher-income countries andinternational financial institutions (IFIs) to improve macro-economic conditions,increase employment-creation and labour market integration in countries of firstasylum through a range of measures including experience and capacity-sharing,concessionaltradearrangements,innovativeandtargetedinvestments,softloans,risk-sharing,andstrategicuseofpublicfunds;

• Expanded robust channels to promote diversity and build an inclusive society tofacilitatesocialcohesion;

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• Ensured space for civil society, including refugee-led organisations and academia, toleadexplorationofthepotentialofpendulummigration(i.e.freemovementbetweencountries of asylum and origin without the need for permanent repatriation) as astrategy for supporting reconstruction, rehabilitation in countries of origin, andpossiblevoluntaryrepatriation;

• Reaffirmationofcommitmentsbyallstakeholderstotheprincipleofnon-refoulementtoensuretherighttovoluntaryrepatriationinsafetyanddignity;

• Increasesinthenumberofresettlementplacesanddestinations,andthedevelopmentof newpathways to enablemobility of refugees between countries including privatesponsorship, humanitarian admission as well work/study and family reunificationprogrammes.

WomenandDisplacementWomenandgirlsconfrontrisksandfacesocial,politicalandeconomicvulnerabilitieslinkedtopersistent gender discrimination and inequalities worldwide. The violence, persecution andother traumas faced by women during conflicts and displacement heighten the risks ofstructural poverty, unemployment, and inadequate access to basic services including health,reproductivehealthandeducation,amongothers.Despitetherhetoricsurroundingwomen’sparticipation, refugeewomen’svoicesandperspectivesarepersistentlyabsent fromnationaland internationaldecision-makingprocessesat all levels, leading topolicies that fall shortofdeliveringwhatrefugeewomenandgirlsneedmost.Inlinewithexistingnational,regionalandinternational commitmentsmadeby states, suchas theConventionon theEliminationof allformsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen,the1997TreatyofAmsterdamConvention,the2010Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domesticviolence,andUnitedNations’Resolution1325,wecallfor:

• Inclusion of the needs and resources of women and girls at all stages of the policyprocess, such as planning, consultation, implementation and monitoring andevaluation.

• Promotion of images of women that project strong and positive role models,presentingthemasrightsholdersandstakeholders,andceasingtoportraywomenasweakandvulnerablerecipientsofaid;

• Trainingand capacitybuildingongender sensitivity andwomen‘s rights issues for allstakeholders working with and for refugee women, such as media, research,government,andinternationalaidagencies;

• Increasingthesupportforwomen-led,refugee-led,grassrootsorganizations,throughfunding and resources, advocacy, networking, strengthening capacity for research,planning,managementandbuildingstrategies;

• Increased representation of women, both in quantity and quality, across differentsectors,includingthosespacesthatareseenastraditionally“male”,suchasbusiness,law enforcement, peace keeping and building and post- conflict developmentprograms;

• A re-definitionofhuman security goingbeyondmilitary securityby includingaspectslike domestic security, women‘s security in public and private spaces, economicopportunities and political participation to ensure equal opportunities and access tobasicrightsforwomen;

• Support to women‘s knowledge production at all levels, including grassroots,community-based and academic knowledge, and the creation of an enablingenvironmentformulti-sectoralexchangeandnetworking,bymeansoftrainingwomento design, collect and analyze data, resource mobilization, formulating agendas anddesigningevidence-basedpolicies;

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• Challenging patterns of discrimination and harassment across different sectors andactorsintheinternationaldevelopmentandaidsystem.

• Nationalgovernmentstofulfilltheircommitmentstotherealizationofwomen‘srights.RepresentationandParticipationPolicy and programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation regardingforced displacement at all levels must be informed by the perspectives, experiences andprioritiesofthosemostaffected.Thequestionofrepresentation–whospeaksforwhom,howandwhenregardingrefugeematters- iscritical. Refugeesandrefugee-hostingcountriesandcommunitiesmustspeakforthemselvesandplayakeyroleindeterminingwhichpoliciesandprogrammesareprioritisedatall levels,aswellasdecisionsonprocesses, systems, financingand implementation of policies. Clarity, direction and supporting processes are critical toensuringtheyarenolongerroutinelysidestepped,leftoutofprocessesaltogetherorusedtoadvancepoliciesdevelopedwithouttheirknowledgeorcontrol.Wethereforecallfor:

§ Support for refugee-led organisations to establish an inclusive international platformfor refugee participation and self-representation made up of a network of refugeecommunityorganizations,initiativesandleadersfromaroundtheworld;

• Guaranteedreformofcurrentpractices,includingprogramdesign,byalldevelopmentandhumanitarianactorsandpolicymakers,toassurerefugeesandhostcommunitiesaseat-at-the-tableatallstagesandlevelsofdecision-makingandpolicyimplementation.This should be accompanied by the establishment of a mechanism to monitorperformanceandholdactorstoaccount.

• Creation of pathways by UN agencies to integrate refugee-led and host communityorganizations into existing systems for formulation of emergency response includinginvitations to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), the Executive CommitteemeetingsofUNHCRandtheUNHCRAnnualConsultationswithNGOs;

• Developmentof inclusivemechanismsbymunicipalitiesandnationalgovernments toencouragetheparticipationofrefugee-ledorganisations, includingNGOs,thinktanks,the private sector and community groups, as well as refugee academics and otherprofessionals,intheformulationandimplementationofpoliciesandprograms;

• Inclusion ofmunicipalities and host communities in the GCR follow up process, andensuredparticipationof refugee-ledorganizations in the global andnational supportmechanismsforeseenintheGCR;

• Provisionofthelegalstatusthatisnecessarytoenablerefugees’equalparticipationinthepolitical,economicandsocialspheres,bynationalgovernments.Thisincludeswell-sequenced solutions for determining legal status such as short- and long-termresidencywithcorrespondingrights;

• Supportofrefugee-ledmulti-mediainitiativesandothersocial,cultural,andacademicmeansthatenablerefugeesandhostcommunitiestonarrateandpromotetheirownperspectives,experiences,andideasinordertoshapediscoursesonrefugeematters.Refugees’ access to technology should be supported by national and internationaldevelopmentandhumanitarianactors;

• Allresponsestoaddresssystematicbarrierstowomen’sparticipationatalllevels.

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ConclusionThepriorities forpolicydevelopmentandactionplanningpresented in this communiquéareunanimouslyendorsedbyallparticipantsoftheInternationalRefugeeCongressthatwasheldinIstanbulon10-11May.We,theparticipantsofthiscongress,believethatimplementationofthese recommendations is vital to better support refugees and host communities, and toachievemoreequitableandfairresponsibilitysharingintheinternationalrefugeesystem.We, as a groupof refugee-led andhost community civil society organisations, andour alliesfromtheinternationalcommunity,aredeterminedtoworktogether,toestablishsystemsandmechanismsthatcanhelpbringthevoicesofthepeoplemostaffectedbydisplacementtotheforefront of refugee response. We are confident that our close collaboration with policymakers at all levels will be essential in more inclusive and participatory processes that aredesigned to increase the access of refugees and host communities to essential rights andservices, including representation and participation, access to legal rights and basic services,durablesolutions,andwomen’srights.Therecommendationspresentedherearebynomeansexhaustive. Insteadtheyrepresentasetofstartingpointsforfurtherarticulation.Whilesomeoftheserecommendationsarewidelyacknowledged,weare concerned that this acknowledgementmoreoften remains rhetorical,fallingshortoftranslationintoaction.Thus,thiscommuniquérepresentsacallforallactorstomakegoodontheircommitments,toputtheequalrightsofrefugeesandhostcommunitiesatthecentreoftheirpolicyandprogramactions,andtoworktogetherinunity,collaborationandcoordination to urgently transform the international refugee system in a way that ensuressharedresponsibilityformeetingneedsinabalancedandaccountablemanner.