Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Post

In the FY23, the ASRC sent 42 joint statement letters and submissions to parliament and politicians, including providing evidence at 3 parliamentary hearings. Systemic change cannot be achieved without working with the people leading the country to provide them with a full picture that represents refugee voices. Learn more about the impact the ASRC achieved with the Systemic Change and Refugee Leadership Programs in the FY23 👉🏼 https://bit.ly/43mEx9S

While we found encouragement in the growing number of refugee leaders at the 2023 Global #RefugeeForum, we also felt frustration due to persistent exclusion and superficial engagement with refugee issues. The slow pace of meaningful change and the dominance of INGOs and State interests continue to overshadow grassroots refugee leadership, despite our calls for equal footing. Read our reflection on the 2023 GRF : 🔗 https://ow.ly/QzTg50QMrr0 #RefugeesLead

“Peace is needed today more than ever. War and conflict are unleashing devastation, poverty, and hunger, and driving tens of millions of people from their homes. Climate chaos is all around. And even peaceful countries are gripped by gaping inequalities and political polarization." [1] Reflecting on this statement by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres today, on the International Day of Peace, we reaffirm our commitment to work in partnership across private, public and civil society sectors (SDG Target 17.17) to create a culture of peace for all. This will necessarily entail working together to find inclusive and sustainable solutions for the tens of millions displaced. In participating in the UN Refugee Agency's Regional NGO Consultations last week, Justice Centre came together with representatives of NGOs and Refugee-Led Organisations across the Asia Pacific to take collection action for peace, sharing and building on effective strategies that advance inclusion and legal pathways for those affected by violence and displacement. [1] https://buff.ly/2AxRBjx

https://lnkd.in/eHfnN49A In this article, RAFDI Working Group Co-chair Dr. Susan Martin and Georgetown Professor Dr. Elizabeth Ferris examine current mechanisms by which the US exercises its leadership through three policy frameworks: financial support to the international system; resettlement of refugees and others in need of protection; and convening power to mobilize support for sustainable solutions. US leadership by example is critical for effective global response to the growing needs of the displaced people.

I am honored to share my latest publication in Policy Options, co-authored with my incredible peers Mahnan Omar, Aydan MacDougall, Sarah Sam, and our project lead, Hugh Gusterson. Our article, titled "More Female Peacekeepers Essential to Protect Children in Conflict Zones," highlights key insights from our capstone Global Policy Project (GP2) study at UBC. Drawing from interviews with UN peacekeepers at ENOPU (National Peace Operations Training Institute of Uruguay), and conversations with ambassadors, policymakers, NGOs, and academia in Canada and beyond, we explore the gender-based and cultural challenges in peacekeeping. Our research highlights the critical need for increasing female participation in peacekeeping roles and emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts to prioritize the protection of civilians, especially children. Additionally, we discuss the significance of accessible engagement mechanisms that resonate with children and the essential role of child agency in transforming the perception of children from mere victims to active agents of change within their communities. 🕊 Read more in the link below. #peacekeeping #conflict #females #child #protection https://lnkd.in/gWevb7gj

Today in 1995 was United Nations' 50th-anniversary gathering. It has been 78 years since its inception in 1945 is a poignant reflection of the organization's longevity. Despite its age, we're still witnessing conflicts and the recent attacks in October 2023 are a stark reminder of the challenges we face. This raises important questions about the effectiveness of the UN in fulfilling its charter. While it has achieved notable successes in various areas, the persistence of conflicts and inequalities worldwide suggests that there is room for improvement. It's disheartening to see how, despite the noble intentions of organizations like the United Nations, conflicts and inequalities persist. The UN has made significant strides in areas like humanitarian aid, peacekeeping, and global health, but its effectiveness is often hindered by political interests and power dynamics among member states. Achieving true unity and ensuring the well-being of all remains an ongoing challenge.

"To design effective peacebuilding policy, we need to know how the population attributes trust ..." Read our latest article, which focuses on the link between trust and effective #peacebuilding and #humanitarian work in #Haiti. https://lnkd.in/dRdcXeHj

"For anyone taking human security seriously, it’s a vital necessity to oppose and reject the inevitability of war. Without the recognition of individual pain, there is no healing. There is no addressing the extremes, there is no diffusing the hatreds of tomorrow." - Pierre Krähenbühl, Secretary-General to the Assembly - International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC at the Caux Forum 2017 On International Migrants Day, we think of all those who had to leave their homes to find refuge, shelter and a new future elsewhere due to ecological or economical reasons, or because of conflicts and war. Rather than hoping for top-down solutions, the IofC UK programme Refugees as Re-Builders™ advocates for refugees and migrants to be the rebuilders that their community needs and aims to help them make an impact. RRB™, which was represented by Dr Muna Ismail, Cecilia Salvati and Amanda Clements at the #GlobalRefugeeForum in Geneva last week, provides innovative and meaningful learning opportunities for settled refugees to strengthen the capability and expertise they already possess as rebuilders, providing them with the resources and practical tools needed to serve their communities and countries of origin. Learn more about the programme: https://lnkd.in/eMpYszNC #bethechange #hospitalityforchange #support #ConnectingPeople #reachingout #safespace #peace #diversity #rebuilders #sustainablepeace #refugeesasrebuilders #trustbuilding #education #pledge #unhcr #takeonestep #counterthenarrative #InternationalMigrantsDay Ignacio Packer Initiatives of Change United Kingdom Initiatives et Changement Geneva Peacebuilding Platform PeaceTalks CHS Alliance Principles for Peace Alliance for Peacebuilding Geneva Centre for Security Policy Trudy Lister Jacqui Daukes Throughout December we reflect on a rich history of messages of peace from individuals, organisations and partners from across the world linked to the work of Initiatives of Change and its mission.

Insights from IOM's New Director General 🔍 Meet Amy Pope, the newly appointed Director General of the IOM - UN Migration (and the first woman ever in this position!). In an interview with The New Humanitarian, she discusses her vision and priorities for the future. Some of her priorities are: *Addressing #ClimateDisasters *Legal Pathways Beyond the 1951 #Refugee Convention. We look forward to her leadership steering #IOM towards a future built on #HumanRights, #transparency, and the #protection of #ForciblyDisplaced people. #RefugeeRightsAreHumanRights #RefugeesWelcome Read the interview here https://lnkd.in/eh3Ftr-t

Social cohesion and peacebuilding are not a luxury in the Syrian context! Due to the humanitarian crisis and the severe basic needs of Syrians, some topics such as social cohesion, peacebuilding, citizenship and democracy are seen as tied to the post-recovery sphere and fall to civil society organisations. However, I believe that the tripartite relationship, humanitarian, development and peacebuilding, must be the compass in any response This is an example of how we in Equity and Empowerment work on the social cohesion and peacebuilding with and by women. The vedio is from my presentation in the World Forum for Democracy last year!