Philippines Announces Humanitarian Pledges at 2nd Global Refugee Forum in Geneva
Department of Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez and Permanent Representative Carlos Sorreta lead the Philippine delegation during the 2nd Global Refugee Forum held on 13-15 December 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
GENEVA 27 December 2023– The Philippines renewed its commitment to contribute to the global humanitarian agenda by announcing twenty-four pledges that are geared towards strengthening protection mechanisms and durable solutions for refugees, stateless persons, asylum seekers, and other persons of concern, during the 2nd Global Refugee Forum held on 13 to 15 December 2023.
Leading the Philippine delegation was Department of Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, who stated that the Philippines’ pledges are intended to seamlessly continue the country’s humanitarian work by building on existing initiatives, particularly those that have been successful in recent years, such the the Complementary Pathways program for Rohingya and other statelessness campaigns in Mindanao.
"We heard the call to be more ambitious and we aimed to do just that, " Undersecretary Vasquez stated. "On top of our pledges, we also announced a 50% increase in our voluntary contribution to the UNHCR, whose work also supports the Global Compact on Refugees."
The pledges will expand the delivery of a range of social services, improve governance and institution-building, and enhance inclusion, particularly those in vulnerable situations, including women and children, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous Peoples.
"Throughout the past century, we hosted considerably greater numbers, as nine waves of refugees have sought shelter on our shores," Undersecretary Vasquez reminded the forum. He added that it is why the Philippines "take to heart our role in hosting a relatively small number of refugees, stateless persons, and asylum seekers."
He also called for solidarity and empathy in implementing the pledges and the Global Compact on Refugees, and reaffirmed that the Philippines, as a middle country, is prepared to cooperate with the global community to end statelessness. He closed by saying that all stakeholders "should not forget the most fundamental of our considerations - the rights, inclusion, safety, and welfare of all displaced persons."
Philippine officials also shared the country’s experiences during several linked and side events: Mission’s Deputy Permanent Representative Kristine Leilani Salle on "Multi-Stakeholder Approaches Towards Ending Statelessness", Department of Justice Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan on "Access to Protection: Asylum Systems, Legal Assistance, and Human Rights" and "From pledges to results: Realizing a world free from statelessness through collaborative action", and State Counsel Paulito de Jesus on "Mobility as a Solution: Expanding Third-Country Pathways through Tertiary Education".
The Philippine delegation to the 2nd Global Refugee Forum comprised officials from the Department of Justice and the Permanent Mission of the Philippines. The Philippines’ programs and initiatives on refugees and other persons of concern are spearheaded by the Department of Justice- Refugee and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU). END
Deputy Permanent Representative Kristine Leilani Salle shares the Philippines’ experiences in its statelessness campaigns during the GRF Linked Event entitled "Multi-Stakeholder Approaches Towards Ending Statelessness" on 12 December 2023.
State Counsel Paulito de Jesus announced the Philippines’ pledges on health and data inclusion.
For more information, visit https://www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHinGeneva/ or https://www.instagram.com/phingeneva/.