UNHCR's annual governing body meeting starts next week

The 63rd annual session of UNHCR's governing body, the Executive Committee, begins this coming Monday, October 1st, in the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Executive Committee, comprising 87 states this year, reviews global and regional refugee protection issues and endorses UNHCR's annual programmes and budgets.

The Chairman of the Executive Committee, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN Ambassador Jan Knutsson, will open the five-day meeting at 10 a.m. on Monday. The Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Ertharin Cousin will deliver a keynote speech, followed by the address of High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres.

A press release covering the High Commissioner's opening remarks will be issued on Monday morning. Speeches will be available on UNHCR's website www.unhcr.org. All addresses on Monday morning are open to accredited Palais-based media.

From 2-5 October, the Executive Committee session will take place in Room XIX.

Our annual report on international refugee protection - a global review of refugee and asylum challenges and achievements - will be presented on Wednesday afternoon by Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Erika Feller. A separate press release will be issued on her report.

UNHCR's revised annual budget for 2013 of US$ 3.92 billion will be presented on Thursday, 4 October.

Throughout next week's meeting of the Executive Committee, a number of side events looking into specific issues and operations will be held in room XXIII. Among these, Norway and Switzerland will launch a new state-led initiative on climate change and displacement called the Nansen Initiative.

At the end of the Executive Committee annual meeting, the High Commissioner is scheduled to give his traditional press conference in the Press Room III at 12.30 p.m. on Friday, 5 October. We will advise any changes to this time.