UNESCO and United Nations University (UNU), will host a conference about migrants and refugees at UNESCO’s Headquarters on 15 June (3-6pm), contributing to the follow up on the 2016 UN General Assembly’s New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants.
Humanitarian workers, artists, academics, representatives of civil society and policymakers will take part in "The Human Face of Migration: Historical Perspectives, Testimonies and Policy Considerations", conference, which will be opened by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and the Rector of the UNU David Malone.
Notable participants will include UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Marianna V. Vardinoyannis (Greece), photographer and film director Yann Arthus-Bertrand (France), along with the coordinator of health interventions for migrants in Lampedusa, Pietro Bartolo (Italy).
Giving pride of place to grass root testimonies and historical reflection, the conference is to shed light on current thinking in the development of migration policies respectful of human dignity and human rights. It fits within the development of the Global Compact for Migration mandated by the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.
The conference is linked to the initiative Welcoming Cities for Refugees and Migrants of UNESCO’s International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities (ICCAR) and the Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Programme of UNESCO.
The UN is expected to agree next year on a framework containing specific and actionable commitments to improve the lives of migrants and refugees. Work in this area is led by the Global Migration Group (GMG), a 22-member interagency platform promoting greater cooperation and coherence, where UNU and UNESCO collaborate closely.
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For the programme of the Conference click here
Media accreditation: Djibril Kebe, UNESCO Media Section, d.kebe@unesco.org +33(0)145681741