In light of the worst crisis of forced displacement ever recorded, affecting over 65 million people, no country can nor will be able to remain on the sidelines. The worldwide importance of the phenomenon is reflected in the high level meeting on refugees and migrants convened by the UN General Assembly for September 19th to discuss a Global Pact on refugees. The the European Commission’s Agenda for Migration foresees binding commitments that Governments must fulfill and Spain must assume a greater responsibility for the reception and integration of refugees. In order to give an effective response, it is essential to strengthen existing structures and make the coordination and cooperation mechanism among different stakeholders sustainable, starting with government administrations at the national, regional, and municipal levels. These mechanisms can only be considered fully operational if they build up upon those existing ones while solidarity and resources being offered are properly capitalized and made available.
Objective: To develop a working frame for the reception and integration of refugees in Spain, beginning with the coordination of all public administration bearing in mind the different competencies of each one.
09:00- Opening ceremony
Francesca Friz-Prguda , UNHCR Representative in Spain
Antonio Garrigues, President of the Foundation Garrigues and Honorary President of Spain for UNHCR
Soledad Becerril, Ombudsman
9:30 a 11:15 ROUNDTABLE – GLOBAL CONTEXT: Forced displacement, mixed migratory movements, impact, and opportunities
Moderator: Francisco Fernández Marugán, Deputy Ombudsman
Speakers:
Stéphane Jaquemet, UNHCR Regional Representative for Italy
Esther Pozo Vera, Coordinator for Relocation Program at Asylum Unit, DG HOME, European Commission
Sarita Bhatla, Director General of Citizenship and Immigration Program, Canadian Government
Rafael Puyol Antolín, University professor of Human Geography, Honorary Rector of the Complutense University of Madrid
DOCUMENTATION
Press release
Refugees
