High Commissioner's Dialogue on Protection Challenges, 2016
High Commissioner's Dialogue on Protection Challenges, 2016
This year's theme, Children on the Move, recognized the growing plight of young people who are fleeing violence and war, and struggling to reach safety.
After waiting for days on the shore of Lake Tanganyika on Kagunga Peninsula, Burundian refugees disembark the MV Liemba in Kigoma. From here, they will be transferred to Nyaragusu refugee camp.
With global forced displacement at a record high of 65.3 million, the number of children seeking refuge has also grown dramatically. Some 112,000 asylum claims for unaccompanied and separated children were lodged in 2015 – the highest number recorded since UNHCR began collecting such data in 2006.
Against this worrying backdrop, this year’s Dialogue brought together a total of 676 participants, including refugee youth delegates, child protection experts, States, intergovernmental organizations, civil society and other humanitarian and academic partners to consider the distinct protection risks children face while on the move. Together, this wide array of participants explored protection initiatives and responses and sought renewed commitment to principles governing protection of and assistance to children fleeing violence, conflict and persecution.
The High Commissioner’s Dialogue built on several events in 2016 relating to youth and others seeking protection, notably the UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants, the UNHCR-NGO Consultations and the Global Refugee Youth Consultations. A number of initiatives and recommendations resulting from the Dialogue will be carried forward during 2017 and beyond.
Opening remarks by the High Commissioner
Closing remarks by the High Commissioner
Closing remarks by Foni Joyce Vuni, Youth Delegate
- List of participants
- Concept paper
- Detailed schedule
- Logistical note
- Background paper
- Side event 1: Responding to sexual and gender-based violence for children on the move
- Side event 2: Engaging young people on the move in protection and solutions
- Situational roundtable 1 - Children on the move in Central America and Mexico
- Situational roundtable 2 - Children on the move in MENA
- Situational roundtable 3 -- Considering comprehensive approaches for Afghan children on the move
- Situational roundtable 4 - Unaccompanied and seperated children in Europe
- Summary report
- Summary of thematic session 1
- Summary of thematic session 2
- Summary of thematic session 3