From 13 to 15 December 2023, the Sovereign Order of Malta participated in the second Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Geneva.

The Delegation was headed by Ambassador Marie-Thérèse Pictet-Althann, Permanent Observer, who delivered a statement. Representatives from Malteser International, the Order of Malta’s worldwide relief agency, were among members of our Delegation.

Held every four years, the Forum is the world’s largest international gathering on refugees, designed to support the practical implementation of the objectives set out in the Global Compact on Refugees: Ease pressures on host countries, enhance refugee self-reliance, increase access to third-country solutions and improve conditions in countries of origin.

Over 4,200 participants from 168 countries attended the Forum in 2023, including over 300 refugee delegates. A further 10,000 people followed the proceedings online.

The Forum saw over 1,600 pledges made to support refugees and their host communities, including 43 multi-partner commitments led by governments. An estimated $2.2 billion in new financial commitments by States and other actors was announced, including some $250 million pledged by the private sector. These outcomes offer a source of hope to the more than 36 million refugees displaced worldwide.

The 2023 Forum was co-convened by five States – Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan and Uganda, and co-hosted by the Government of Switzerland and UNHCR.

Photo credit. UNHCR