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The Mayors Migration Council at the United Nations Global Refugee Forum 2023
Event Overview
Geneva, Switzerland (December, 2023) – Mayors and leaders from across the globe will convene in Geneva, Switzerland, for the United Nations 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF), occurring December 13-15, 2023, at the Palexpo Convention Center in Geneva, Switzerland.
Five years from the adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), UN Member States will meet at the GRF to assess the progress they have made to achieve this landmark agreement and to advance joint action towards refugee protection and inclusion. Cities will have a key opportunity to showcase their leadership in welcoming and including refugees and displaced populations, provide recommendations for more efficient solutions, and gain visibility by meeting with high-level UN, government, and donor representatives. The Mayors Migration Council (MMC) and partners will mobilize a delegation of local government leaders to participate in GRF activities and will elevate city pledges through the Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees.
Over the course of the week, mayors will participate in official GRF sessions and side events to share their policy expertise and on-the-ground experience with national governments as they advance joint action to make the Global Compact a reality. On December 15, the MMC Leadership Board of Mayors will hold its Annual Event to set key priorities for 2024 and discuss future growth for the organization. The mayoral delegation will also engage in private meetings with high-level UN, government, and donor representatives, press briefings, and other opportunities to highlight city-led solutions.
More details on GRF programming are available here.
Session Details
WHAT: In this official GRF high-level event, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Director General of the International Organization for Migration, and other high-level speakers will discuss key complementarities between the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Migration. More details forthcoming.
WHERE: Palexpo Convention Center
WHEN: Friday, December 14, 2023, 1:30-3:00pm
WHAT: The Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments is a coordination and consultation mechanism that brings together the major international networks of local governments to undertake joint advocacy work relating to global policy processes. This meeting will gather the LRG constituency to discuss territorial priorities regarding the Global Compact on Refugees and its connections with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
WHERE: Palexpo Convention Center
WHEN: Thursday, December 14, 2023, 3:00-6:00pm
WHAT: The Mayors Migration Council, the City of Zürich, and the City of Geneva will host a high-level reception at the Musée de l’Ariana, with the participation of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Attendees will include ambassadors and ministers, as well as principals from donors and partner organizations. This invite-only event will be a chance for mayors to build relationships with UN Member States and deepen their interaction with UN and philanthropic leaders.
WHERE: Musée de l’Ariana
WHEN: Thursday, December 14, 2023, 7:00-9:00pm
WHAT: At this closed-door event, the MMC Leadership Board will review the MMC’s recent achievements and future direction, and agree on key advocacy messages and delivery strategy to ensure they have a unified voice and impact at upcoming GRF diplomatic engagements and beyond. Attendees include existing and new mayors of the MMC Leadership Board, their city delegates, special mayoral guests, and the MMC team.
WHERE: Intercontinental Hotel
WHEN: Friday, December 15, 2023, 8:00-10:00am
WHAT: This official GRF side-event organized by the Mayors Mechanism partners MMC, UCLG, and IOM in cooperation with UNHCR will be the official launch of new city pledges from the Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees. The panel will bring active and engaged mayors representing different world regions together with Member State/donor champions for a dialogue on the role of cities in delivering the Global Compact on Refugees and the need to direct international resources to city governments, including through the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees.
WHERE: Palexpo Convention Center
WHEN: Friday, December 15, 2023, 11:00am-12:30pm
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