On December 8, Vahe Gevorgyan, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, chaired a round-table discussion dedicated to the participation of Armenia in the Global Refugee Forum to be convened in Geneva next week.

The priorities of Armenia regarding the protection of the rights of refugees were presented during the discussion, particularly, the importance of international community’s support in terms of addressing the needs of the refugees forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh was emphasized in terms of both addressing urgent challenges and implementing mid-term and long-term programs, as well as securing sustainable livelihood. In this context, the importance of ensuring the consistency of activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was highlighted.

With regards to the pledges undertaken by Armenia during the Forum, it was noted that the pledges include the creation of opportunities for the refugees of Nagorno-Karabakh for economic activities, as well as for obtaining housing and jobs, ensuring right to education and affordability of healthcare services and implementation of special programs for women.

​The participants of the meeting emphasized that Armenia, having a long-lasting experience of accepting refugees and addressing their needs, will share its best practice related to the work with refugees in the framework of the Forum.

​Representatives of relevant Ministries, international organizations, including from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia, as well as refugees took part in the meeting along with the members of the delegation heading to participate in the works of the Forum.

Note: This year the Global Refugee Forum will be held on 13-15 December. The Forum, held every four years, is the world’s largest international gathering on refugees. The aim of the Forum is to support the implementation of the provisions enshrined in The New York Declaration of 2016 and Global Compact on Refugees of 2018 through announcement of pledges by countries.