2nd Meeting, 77th Session of UNHCR Executive Committee

Good afternoon, good afternoon my colleagues and gentlemen. Please take your seat. We are going to start in a couple of minutes. Thank you. So, good afternoon. Now, I would like to resume our discussions. The first speaker this afternoon is Nigeria. So, I would like to give the floor to Nigeria, please. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Nigeria aligns with the statements delivered on behalf of the OIC and the African group and wishes to add the following statement in its national capacity. We congratulate His Excellency, Dr. Bahram Saleh, on assuming office and assure him of our full support. Mr. High Commissioner, my delegation has noted with satisfaction your comprehensive report on the operational and policy priorities of your office and commends you and your team for a job well done. We also thank Mr. Filippo Grandi for a decade of leadership and the Chair and Bureau for steering this session. 75 years on, amid record displacement, and shrinking resources, the 1951 Refugee Convention remains as vital as ever. Mr. Chair, Nigeria maintains a fair and efficient asylum system under the National Commission for Refugee, Migrant, and Internally Displaced Persons Act of 2022, with borders open to those fleeing persecution. As of September 2026, we host over 142,000 refugees and asylum seekers from 42 countries, have received over 24,000 returnees, and have over 6.7 million internally displaced persons. No reform has been recorded this year, and we remain firmly committed to non-reform. Our stateless and global compact pledges remain on course. In 2026, Nigeria domesticated the Kampala Convention, and our states have begun to follow. Since this committee last met, improved security is creating conditions for return. With UNHCR, we have advanced a digital gateway giving refugees secure online access to information. Resettlement cities for internally displaced persons now exist in seven locations, supporting the phased voluntary closure of camps in safety and dignity. Under tripartite agreements, over 7,000 Nigerian refugees returned voluntarily this year. 14,000 more in Cameroon have registered to return, and an agreement covering 2,000 in Niger is being finalized. We thank Cameroon, Chad, and Niger for their generous hospitality. Former Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees have integrated locally, some now leading businesses in Nigeria. Refugees in five states received land, farm input, and skills training. And the National Commission for Refugee, Migrant, and Internally Displaced Persons' new public-private partnership department is helping reduce aid dependency. We call on all states to recognize Nigeria's convention travel documents and facilitate visas for their holders. Displaced persons and host communities are being enrolled in the national identity system, opening access to banking, schools, and social services. Refugees are included in state action plans and social registers, and 10 mobile documentation buses will soon reach remote areas. Nigeria reaffirmed its 5-2023 pledges in December 2025. But no host country can do this alone. Greater burden and responsibility sharing, including expanded resettlement and complementary pathways, is very essential. We call on UNHCR to explore the possibility of scaling up funding by partnering with regional and sub-regional financial institutions, such as the African Development Bank and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development. We thank donors for their support in a difficult funding climate. High Commissioner, Nigeria values its partnership with UNHCR and will continue to build on it. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Minister. Now, I would like to give the floor to Uganda. Please, Uganda, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. Mr. Chairperson, the High Commissioner, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to start by thanking the High Commissioner, Mr. Baron Salin, for his leadership and congratulating him on successfully organizing his first ExCom. My government is committed to working with you, the High Commissioner, and supporting you, including in realizing your vision of 50 by 35. Here, Uganda aligned with the African group statement delivered by the Honorable Minister of Democratic Republic of Congo. The ExCom is covering an extraordinary time. It happens at a time of increased global conflict and violence that have pushed worldwide displacement to record high creating an urgent humanitarian crisis. The number is staggering, with over 120 million displaced worldwide. With an increased influx and declining financial support from the international community, this situation severely straining service and straining host countries to their limits. Today, Uganda hosts over 2 million refugees, asylum seekers. Over these 60,000 arrived in 2026 alone. 77% are women and children and half are below 18 years of age. Behind these figures are children, women, and families seeking safety and opportunity to rebuild their lives. For decades, Uganda has maintained an open-door policy, providing protection, land, education, health service, and opportunity for the livelihood to people fleeing conflict and prosecution. This generosity is increasingly unsustainable without the international community fulfilling its part in responsibility and burden sharing. We commend the partners that have supported us through, far, and those that remain committed to supporting Ugandan refugee response. We reiterate our call for scale-up support and invite other partners to join in easing growing pressure on our government. Here, whereas we recognize the current pressure facing humanitarian across and donors due to several fiscal constraints, we would like to underscore an importance of vital lifesaving funding, which is an investment in humanity. The reality we face and that we know is that as the humanitarian funding declines, the need for those affected do not go away. The burden shifts to refugees, hosting countries like mine. This puts a desperation, economic, social, environmental, and infrastructural burden on us as host countries. There's need for predictable and sustainable globally shared solution. In light of the above, I would like to underline the following. First, Uganda welcomes the High Commissioner's Vision of 50 by 35 and will work closely with his office and partners to realize the vision. It is important to note that this vision will require dedicated support from partners without shifting away burden to hosting countries in form of loans or debts. Secondly, durable solutions must remain at the center of our collective agenda. We must collectively address the root cause of disappointment, resolve and end conflict to facilitate safe and dignified, voluntary returns, durable solution, ultimately require political solution. Third, the partners should Implement the responsibility GRF pledges, especially by ensuring that financial pledges match with the host country policy pledges, will risk reducing the important GRF platform into a state of empty declaration, devoid of action, Pledges must be translated into financial programs with measurable resources and concrete partnership. Fourth and last, we request that the UNCHR to mobilize investment opportunity to generate jobs and inform self-reliance for refugees and their host communities. Here, finally, as we convene, we should all reflect beyond how much humanitarian assistance can be mobilized. And this year, we should reflect on our preparedness to build a more sustainable international system that will find durable solution to displacement and share equity, the growing burden and responsibility to assisting and protecting the refugees. My government remains committed to playing its part. We count on the international community to do the same. I thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. Now I'd like to give the floor to the Gambia, please.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Your Excellency, the Commissioner, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. On behalf of the government and people of the Gambia, I extend warm congratulations to the newly elected United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Dr. Baham Sali. We also pay tribute to your predecessor, Mr. Filippo Grandi, for his distinguished leadership and commitment to accountability, institutional reform, and refugee protection worldwide. The Gambia remains committed to working closely with UNHCR and all partners in advancing refugee protection, social inclusion and durable solutions through strengthening partnership and enhanced resource mobilization. Excellencies, The Gambia joins the international community in calling for peace and the peaceful resolution of conflict. Persistent and emerging conflicts violence and instability continue to displace millions and place immense pressure on humanitarian systems. Sustainable peace and political solutions remain the most effective to respond to forced displacement. We therefore call upon all parties to embrace dialogue, diplomacy and negotiated settlement. as we mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, to which our country has been party since 1966. The gathering affirms the importance of the international refugee protection system. At a time when access to asylum is under increasing pressure, states must uphold their obligation, including the principle of non-refoulement, The challenges faced by countries managing refugees and mixed movement require practical cooperation and stronger international responsibility sharing, not a retreat from protection. Protection must also extend to people undertaking dangerous route by sea. The loss of life at sea is a grave concern. On 31st December 2025, a boat with over 200 people capsized off our coast at Ginnak. 112 were rescued, but at least 39 lives were lost. We underscore the importance of timely search and rescue efforts, safe disembarkation, identification and referral of people who may need international protection. Cooperation among countries along migration routes, together with UNHCR, IOM and other partners is essential to prevent loss of life and exploitation, uphold dignity and ensure that asylum seekers are not returned to places where they face danger. Since the previous Executive Committee session, the Gambia has continued to make progress in implementing its commitment on the Global Refugee Forum. Refugee protection, inclusion and durable solutions remain central priorities. As a deliberate national policy, refugees are not confined to camp, but live side by side with host communities, sharing public services, opportunities, and resources. This approach strengthens peaceful coexistence, social cohesion, and mutual understanding. Mr. Chair, despite our size, the Gambia currently hosts 4,218 refugees and 557 asylum seekers. a total of 4,775 persons of concern from more than 20 countries. Through the Gambia Refugee Commission, we work with institutions responsible for education and health, the public utility authority, and the National Agency for Legal Aid to promote access to essential services. With support from UNHCR regional office in Dhaka, Refugee status determination continued, and refugee identification card and asylum seekers attestation are regularly issued. The government is also exploring ways to simplify naturalization for refugees seeking local integration with appropriate data protection safeguards. On statelessness, in line with our 2023 Global Refugee Forum pledge, A national assessment was undertaken in Gyanetown by the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Gambia Commission for Refugees and National Human Rights Commission with technical support from UNHCR. It identified individuals, including women and children, most of them born in the Gambia. who may lack recognized nationality, subject to legal advice and due process. The government remain committed to resolving their status and facilitating access to nationality for eligible persons. We are also reviewing the Refugee Act to strengthen protection, inclusion, birth registration, and provision addressing statelessness, foundling, and undocumented children. Mr. Chair, humanitarian assistance remains indispensable where lives are at risk, but it cannot be the endpoint for people living in displacement for years or decades. The Gambia offers three recommendations. First, we support investment in education, national system, livelihood, and economic opportunity that benefit refugees and host community alike. backed by predictable multi-year financing that reach small host countries. Second, we must also advance voluntary return when conditions permit, resettlement and complementary pathway and local integration toward the High Commissioner's goal of having protected displacement. Third, legal identity is protected, birth registration and recognized documentation prevent statelessness and unlock self-reliance. Looking ahead to the Global Refugee Forum in 2027, commitment must translate into tangible improvement for refugees and host countries. Mr. Chair, The Gambia is a small country that kept its door open 75 years on. Let solidarity mark that openness and the Convention promise will be kept. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Minister. Now I would like to give the floor to Sao Tome and Principe, please.

Excellency, Mr. President, High Commissioner, President, Excellencies, distinguished heads of delegation, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor that Sao Tome and Principe takes part in the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. At the outset, allow me to congratulate the High Commissioner on his first address to this Committee and acknowledge the relevance of the vision that he has presented. The world is passing through a period marked by new conflicts, geopolitical fragmentation, and growing pressure on the humanitarian system. In this context, we share the conviction that forced displacement cannot be viewed only through its humanitarian consequences, as it reflects deep failures in crisis prevention, peacebuilding, and the search for sustainable political solutions. The celebration this year of the 75th anniversary of the Convention of 1951 reminds us of the importance and ongoing relevance of the refugee protection system. We consider compliance with international obligations to be essential, including the principle of non-refoulement, while also recognizing the challenges that countries face in the context of complex migration flows. Responding to these dynamics requires practical cooperation and more equitable responsibility sharing among states. For an island nation such as ours, international solidarity is crucial, as the capacity to receive and protect depends directly on global collective support. We also follow with great interest the High Commissioner's goal of halving by 2035 the number of refugees in protracted situations of displacement and dependency, immediate humanitarian assistance remains crucial, but it cannot become the permanent fate of entire populations. We emphasize the urgent need for pathways that promote self-reliance and dignified integration, transforming the humanitarian response into a real driver of long-term stability and development. For such main principle, this reflection must essentially include a perspective on gender, age, and diversity, placing women and girls at the center of our action. Forcibly displaced women and girls frequently face heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation, trafficking, early marriage, discrimination, and economic exclusion. These risks can be exacerbated when combined with poverty, lack of documentation, disability, age, or family separation. We therefore believe that protection must begin with guaranteeing fundamental rights and effective access to justice. A refugee, displaced or stateless woman must be able to know her rights, obtain documentation, report abuse, receive assistance and find institutions capable of responding to her needs with safety, dignity and confidentiality. Chairperson, Sao Tome and Principe also attaches particular importance to the right to a nationality and the prevention of statelessness. For an island state such as ours, protecting the legal identity of every person is an essential dimension of human dignity and the rule of law. Having reaffirmed in 2024 its commitment to important international instruments relating to refugees, statelessness, and internal displacement, Sao Tome and Principe marked a new milestone in 2026 by formalizing its accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. This decision is of particular importance for the protection of children. No child should begin life without a recognized nationality, without documentation, or without full access to their basic rights. In this regard, birth registration, access to documentation, and legal safeguards against statelessness must remain national priorities. Distinguished delegates, as a small island developing state, Saint Dominica is also familiar with the multiple vulnerabilities associated with climate change, extreme weather events, and limited institutional and financial capacities. Although our territory does not currently face significant refugee flows, we cannot regard international protection as a distant responsibility. Our experience shows that international solidarity must be universal, but responses must also reflect the specific realities of each country. Small island developing states need technical support, institutional capacity building and predictable resources to develop national protection systems that can respond to new and complex forms of vulnerability and displacement. We therefore reaffirm our appreciation for our partnership with UNHCR and encourage strengthened cooperation with states, regional organizations, civil society, and above all, affected communities themselves. So to my point, if we'll continue to work to ensure that gender equality, the protection of women and girls, the prevention of statelessness and access to justice are inseparable components of international protection. To protect is to guarantee rights, to guarantee rights is to ensure dignity, and to ensure dignity is to leave no one behind, I think here.

Thank you very much, Madam Minister. Now, I'd like to give the floor to the Central African Republic, please.

Excellencies, High Commissioner, Chair of the Executive Committee, distinguished state representatives, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Central African Republic. Since the last session of the Executive Committee, my country has made significant progress under the vision and leadership of His Excellency Faustin-Archange Touadera, President of our country. We have organized historic votes, presidential, legislative, regional, and municipal. For the first time since 1998, our people elected the local authorities. The round table in Rabat, Morocco, mobilized our partners to finance national development plans. We also carried out a national population census. Each of these processes had enforced displacement at the heart of our priorities. Ladies and gentlemen, my country has also suffered the Sudanese crisis. We have over 50,000 refugees from Sudan who have fled the war. In line with our policy of openness, we have included them in our national system. We have adopted national sustainable strategy for IDPs and repatriated persons. Our country has over 400,000 and some 650,000 of our compatriots are refugees in neighboring countries, we encourage them to come home and participate in national reconstruction. Here, I wish to reiterate our thanks to the asylum countries Cameroon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad. In terms of sustainable solutions, I emphasise the progress at three levels. At the diplomatic level, we have identified dialogue with the signatories to the Yonsei Declaration within the platform over which I preside. Between 2025 and 2026, we held two tripartite meetings with Cameroon, and the DRC and carried out three visits. In the next few weeks I will be going to Chad to have a tripartite meeting with the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs. This is the launch of the Voluntary repatriation of our compatriots from Chad under the tripartite agreement. Operationally, over 100,000 returns have taken place since 1997 by organized convoys or spontaneously. Spontaneous returns are a strong sign that our compatriots can see in our country's progress a reason to go home. On the level of reintegration, with local authorities, the Ministry for Planning and the Ministry for Administration and Territories, we have identified and adopted 14 return zones, which will become development platforms. All of this progress is part of our strategy of openness. and is in line with the 50 by 35 vision. Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished delegates, what we need now in our country is financing to cover our commitments. Without resources, returns can be a burden on communities instead of strengthening them. Mr. High Commissioner, as agreed during our recent meeting in New York, it would be an honor to host you in our country at the beginning of 2027 in order to continue our exchanges. As we say in my language, singi nalingi, thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Minister. Now I'd like to give the floor to Brazil. Brazil, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson, Mr. High Commissioner. As many have mentioned, this year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the cornerstone of the international refugee protection regime established in the aftermath of the World War II. Brazil remains steadfastly committed to refugee protection. President Lula gladly joined the initiative of the High Commissioner to renew political commitment to refugee protection entitled The Promise. As forced displacement reaches unprecedented levels, we must uphold the principles of international protection regime, including non-refoulement and the right to seek asylum. But no refugee protection regime is as good as preventing and solving the conflicts that generate them. On the side of hope, last year saw the highest number of returns in six decades, millions of persons returning to their places of origin. However, those numbers do not tell the whole story because many returned to countries still affected by conflict or violence, and many will struggle to restart their lives. Returns must be safe, voluntary, and dignified, with sustainable conditions that allow people to rebuild their lives without facing renewed displacement. Yet, at a time of severe financial and political challenges, the ability of UNHCR to fulfill its vital mandate is at risk. Responsibility sharing is central to the Global Compact on Refugees. However, international support to receive and protect refugees remains far below what is needed. And we all know that developing countries host a disproportionate amount of refugees and displaced persons. We call on the international community to step up efforts to support refugee host countries, not only through resources, but also by opening their communities and social support programs to refugees. In the face of a widening gap of resources, budgetary reform and efficiency are necessary, but fundamental humanitarian principles and the protection mandate of UNHCR must be preserved. This month, the Brazilian government made a voluntary contribution of $300,000 to UNHCR through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, to support refugee protection and integration in Operation Welcome, that receives mixed flows in the extreme north of Brazil. We have also established a community sponsorship program for Afghans, through which more than 500 refugees, many with nowhere else to go, have already arrived in 2026. Refugees and asylum seekers in Brazil have access to the labor market and public health, education and social assistance services in par with any Brazilian. They hold documentation enabling them to work formally and access the financial system. When refugees remain vulnerable, they have access to social assistance and protection. As such, ours is a policy that promotes self-reliance, conscious that this should exist in a context that favors durable solutions, voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement, and concrete pathways for the protection of refugees. Finally, Brazil is proud to submit its candidacy to join the Bureau of the Executive Committee. We look forward to contribute to strengthening the governance of the UN Refugee Agency. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. Now, I would like to give the word to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, please.

Distinguished Chair, High Commissioner, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, first and foremost, I would like to start by sincerely congratulating Mr. Salih for his election as High Commissioner, wishing him every success in new challenging assignment. and thank him for a thought-provoking opening statement, which clearly demonstrates present global challenges we all have to face in order to respond to urgent humanitarian needs and large-scale forcible displacement caused by wars, conflicts, persecution, human rights violations, and climate change across the continents. Azerbaijan's sensitivities towards protracted displacement problems are clearly understandable as a country that has been hosting in per capita terms one of the largest cases of the forcibly displaced population in the last three decades, comprising 10% of its overall population of 10 million in consequence of ex-Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Today, in the aftermath of a war of 2020 that not only reinstated territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders, but also created conditions conducive for safe and dignified return of the displaced population to their homeland, Azerbaijan has entered into a new phase of its historical post-conflict development. Great Return has been declared as one out of five national priorities for socio-economic development of Azerbaijan to be achieved by year 2030. And in order to ensure implementation of this national priority, the government launched the first ever state program on great return to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, which provides a wide range of activities to facilitate reconstruction and resettlement of Karabakh and Izangizur regions, and eventual return and progressive resettlement of hundreds of thousands of our compatriots to their homeland, with objectives aligned to sustainable development goals and based on commonly acknowledged principles of universality, integrated approach, and leaving no one behind. Currently, security measures are being undertaken, magnificent infrastructure projects implemented in the liberated territories, with an emphasis on smart village and green economy concepts. Azerbaijan plans to develop alternative urban areas with the aim of making effective use of available resources, hence the idea to start the first ever purposely built smart settlement in Zangilan's village of Agaleh, based on five smart pillars. Thanks to the tireless efforts taken by the government, life now returns to the territories that have experienced unprecedented vandalism in 30 years of military occupation. Implementation of Great Return allowed already for nearly 100,000 of our compatriots to be resettled in nearly 50 residential sites. In the coming years, there will be a large-scale implementation of housing projects with employment being a vital pillar, and more than $17 billion worth already have been allocated for reconstruction and rehabilitation activities, which represents a heavy, substantial burden for the state budget. And in order to ensure sustainability of return process, preparation of the second great return program covering period 27 to 30 is underway by decree of the President. And the program will reflect effective measures for resettlement of territories liberated from occupation. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that contamination of lands with mines and other unexploded ordinances remains a major obstacle, seriously impeding safe and dignified return of hundreds of thousands of IDPs to their home. And more than 400 civilians already either lost their lives or got serious injuries following mine explosions since November 2020. And given the scale of the problem, Azerbaijan considers mine action as an essential prerequisite for fulfilling human rights and has formally declared humanitarian demining as its 18th national sustainable development goal. Restoring justice for IDPs and refugees is a solid foundation for any long-term peace and stability in the region. And last August, within the framework of Washington Summit, leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a joint declaration, witnessed by U.S. President Trump, on establishment of peace and interstate relations, which is of historical importance for the region. And we believe with this, the problem of the displaced will find its solution, and our entire region will turn into a promising anchor of peace, stability, and economic dividends. Mr. High Commissioner, in conclusion, I would like to underline that my government is making serious efforts to fulfill its international commitments on refugees, migration, and statelessness in the spirit of fair and constructive collaboration. Azerbaijan has successfully completed implementation of the pledges voiced at the first Global Refugee Forum and included, among others, place to ensure safe and dignified return of the displaced to their homeland at the second JRF in December 2023. Azerbaijan also, it's worth noting, Azerbaijan emerged from being a recipient to donor country with humanitarian projects implemented in nearly 140 countries around the world. Azerbaijan is developing and implementing advanced models of post-conflict reconstruction, recovery, and governance. that integrate mine clearance, urban planning, and return of former IDPs into a single coordinated framework. And we stand ready to share our experience with other countries and regions facing similar consequences of the conflict, as we believe that it's an effective approach. And in conclusion, despite the longstanding and large-scale problem of internal displacement, Azerbaijan also takes significant steps towards accepting asylum seekers from third countries, strengthening social protection integration of, uh, persons granted with refugee status. and preventing illegal migration as a transit country between Asia and Europe. Azerbaijan remains committed to playing its global role in this process. I thank you very much for your attention.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Now I'd like to invite Ecuador. So Ecuador, please.

Senor Presidente.

Chairperson, High Commissioner, Excellencies, on behalf of the Government of Ecuador, I thank the High Commissioner for his statement and reiterate our support for his leadership and the work of UNHCR on behalf of refugees and displaced persons. The over 107 million forcibly displaced persons, that's a figure that the High Commissioner recently mentioned to the Security Council, they are not a statistic, they are lives that depend on our protection. In the face of persistent conflicts, climate crises, and dwindling humanitarian resources, strengthening international cooperation is more urgent than ever. Ecuador shares the concern about the persistent shortfall in resources. This could leave up to 8.3 million refugees and displaced persons without assistance this year. We therefore reiterate the importance of predictable, flexible, timely funding, and we call on Member States to continue to support the organization's appeals with sufficient and, where possible, unearmarked contributions. We also recognize HCR's efforts to adapt to this environment, strengthening its efficiency and prioritizing its essential functions of protection, assistance, and solutions. In this context, Ecuador welcomes the 50 by 35 vision, which seeks to halve by 2035 the number of refugees in protracted situations of dependency on humanitarian assistance. We welcome the fact that even in adverse contexts, sustainable solutions are promoted that focus on self-reliance. and real inclusion. For this goal to be achievable, sustained investments in national systems are required, especially in education, livelihoods and economic opportunities that benefit both refugees and host communities. Inclusion and self-reliance must be underpinned by effective shared responsibility, additional predictable sustainable resources, and adequate technical supports to host countries. High Commissioner, Ecuador is familiar with these challenges. Our country has a long tradition of solidarity and protection, reflected in the recognition of over 81,600 refugees the vast majority of whom come from Colombia. That tradition is put to the test every day at our borders. Over 23,600 forcibly displaced people have arrived in the province of Karchi on the northern border. That's about 13% of its population. And there, HCR mobile registration and protection brigades, with the support of the EU, are identifying unaccompanied children and adolescents. survivors of gender-based violence and victims of the armed conflict. And the Public Defender's Office has provided assistance in over 645 cases just in 2025. This is cooperation that works. It arrives on time, it reaches those who need it most, and it strengthens our national protection system. That's why every cut is felt first at the border. I also want to highlight an experience that shows that self-sufficiency is possible. The Inclusive Company Seal, that's an initiative of HCR in Ecuador, the fifth edition was held last week and since 2022 nearly 300 companies have been recognized for promoting socio-economic inclusion of refugees, facilitating the hiring of over 1,925 refugees and migrants. We look with particular interest the Global Refugee Forum of 2027, an opportunity to renew the momentum of the Global Compact on Refugees and translate the commitments made into concrete results for refugees and the communities that host them. In that spirit, Ecuador reaffirms its readiness to continue working together with UNHCR, Member States and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen inclusion, promote self-sufficiency and turn our commitments into concrete solutions that guarantee that no person who is forced to flee is left behind. Thank you very much, Mr. President and Mr. High Commissioner. Thank you.

Mr. Deputy Minister. Now, I would like to give the floor to Turkey, please.

Mr. Chairperson, High Commissioner, Excellencies. Let me begin by warmly congratulating Mr. Berham Salih for his election and by reaffirming Turkey's support to him and also expressing Turkey's appreciation to him and the UNHCR staff for their tireless efforts amid unprecedented displacement and mounting pressure on the humanitarian system. In this challenging environment, UNHCR's mandate remains indispensable. Protecting refugees, assisting those in need, and advancing durable solutions requires strong institutions and above all, genuine international solidarity. As a country that has stood by those facing conflict and displacement, Turkey has long been part of this shared responsibility. Mr. Chair, the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention provides an important opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the international refugee protection system. The Convention's core principles remain as relevant today as they were 75 years ago. Yet, the context has changed considerably. While humanitarian needs continue to grow, resources decline. This places particular pressure on countries neighboring major crises and those hosting large refugee populations for many years. Turkey's position is clear. Refugee protection is an international responsibility, and responsibility and burden sharing must be equitable. Countries hosting large refugee populations cannot be expected to compensate for declining international assistance. Solidarity with refugees must be matched by solidarity with host countries. Externalization is not a viable option. Excellencies. The growing gap between humanitarian needs and available funding puts the international humanitarian system under serious pressure. Protracted displacement cannot be addressed through short-term and unpredictable funding. Host countries need reliable multi-year support. We therefore support efforts to diversify financing through innovative models and broader partnerships. Advancing durable solutions is equally important. UNHCR's 50 by 35 vision sets an ambitious goal in this respect. Greater self-reliance for refugees, together with efforts to create conditions conducive to voluntary return, as well as expanding resettlement opportunities, are critical to reducing protracted displacement and enabling refugees to rebuild their lives. At the same time, addressing the root causes remains essential to preventing new displacement. Turkey supports improving coordination, reducing duplication, and driving efficiency reforms across UN agencies through the Humanitarian Reset and UN80 initiatives. Efficiency, however, should not simply mean cuts. Prioritization must remain needs-based and protection-oriented, preserving UNHCR's core mandate, agility, and operational capacity. Distinguished delegates, The situation in Syria deserves particular attention. A sustainable response requires a comprehensive approach combining humanitarian assistance, early recovery, reconstruction, and durable solutions. For Turkey, which hosts 2.2 million Syrians, voluntary, safe, dignified, and orderly return remains an important element of this approach. Restoration of security and stability have contributed to the voluntary return of more than 750,000 Syrians so far. Continued international engagement and support, including for early recovery and reconstruction, will be critical for sustainable returns. The situation in Gaza also remains a grave concern. Turkey firmly rejects any attempt by forcibly displaced Palestinians from their homeland. Civilians must be protected. Humanitarian assistance must reach those in need without obstruction. And international humanitarian law must be fully respected. Turkey will continue to support Palestinian people's rights and legitimate aspirations. Beyond Gaza, Turkey remains committed to extend a helping hand wherever humanitarian needs arise. Mr. Chair, major refugee hosting countries must have a stronger voice in shaping international responses to forced displacement. Turkey's long-standing cooperation with UNHCR is grounded in this understanding. Assuming the role of first Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee at this session is a new responsibility for Turkey, which we will undertake in a constructive and cooperative spirit. As we commemorate 75 years of Refugee Convention, Turkey remains firmly committed to international refugee protection. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Minister. Now, I would like to give the floor to the United Republic of Tanzania. Please.

Thank you, Chairperson, High Commissioner, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Tanzania aligns with the statement delivered by the Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the African groups. On behalf of the government of United Republic of Tanzania, I extend warm congratulations to the High Commissioner, Mr. Berhan Saleh, on assuming office. You take up this responsibility at a time of unprecedented resources constraint, yet with a clear vision We welcome your 50 by 35 vision of finding durable solution for the refugee population by half by 2035. Tanzania agree with these directions and stand ready to support it. Chairperson, to demonstrate our commitment, in August 2026, The governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Republic of Tanzania, together with UNHCR, convened under the tripartite commission framework. We advanced the discussion on the voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees in Tanzania, following a joint verification exercise to assess intentions and a preferred area of return. Of more than 87,000 refugees verified, over 22,000 expressed their wish to be assisted to return home. Hundreds have already returned spontaneously at their own expense. The Commission, therefore, decided to begin first voluntary repatriation to safe area of the DRC. This process will be voluntary, guided by accurate information, so that refugees can make informed decisions. Tanzania is committed to full and timely implementation. We call on UNHCR to work closely with us so that this decision translates into real progress on the ground, including by addressing remaining practical barriers to return. We also argue that Congolese refugees who wish to return receive support comparable to that given to other caseloads. Chairperson, Tanzania continues to host a protracted caseload of Burundian refugees who arrived in Tanzania since 1972, over 50 years ago. Over the years, My country has already granted citizenship to more than 160,000 individuals from this group. Those who remain with refugee status are now living among our communities in villages, towns, and cities, and their situation is complex. The government has therefore initiated a process to pursue durable solutions beginning with the verification and assessment for which we seek the support of the international community. We have taken the position that further naturalization will not be pursued for this group, but we remain firmly committed to identifying a dignified and a sustainable alternative. In this regard, we call for technical and financial assistance to enable verifications, assessment, and the logistics required to reach this dispersed population across the country. Chairperson, as many delegations have noted, financial constraints are a pressing concern. In Tanzania, they have led to the closure of key humanitarian programs. Healthcare, education, and food assistance are critically underfunded, straining both refugees and host communities. We therefore call on the High Commissioner to intensify efforts to mobilize additional, sustainable, and predictable resources. We also call on the international community to continue to share responsibility so that basic needs are met with durable solution pursuits. Chairperson, in conclusion, Tanzania remains a committed and reliable partner in the international protection regime. For decades, we have welcomed those fleeing persecution and conflicts. We will continue to receive those in need provide protection and pursue, together with UNHCR and the international community, workable, durable solutions that restore hope and dignity. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Deputy Minister. Now, I'd like to give the floor to the High Commissioner for responses, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me start by thanking Minister Doro for affirming Nigeria's strong commitment to asylum, non-refoulement, and solutions for displaced people. We welcome Nigeria's progress on domestication of the Kampala Convention and note with appreciation the resettlement cities in seven locations to enable closure of camps and the provisions of land and access to social services. Your efforts around statelessness and digital access through digital gateway are also noted with appreciation. I take note of your call to greater responsibility sharing, wider recognition of convention, travel documents and stronger partnership with regional financial institution, with which, of course, I agree. I want to thank you, Mr. Minister, for Uganda's reaffirming Uganda's commitment and support to our vision 50 by 35, which let me reiterate, does not mean shifting responsibility to hosting nations. As others, I have heard your concern of diminishing support for refugee hosting states. Your open door policy providing protection, land, health, and other national services is greatly appreciated and agree that the international community is a responsibility sharing is important to ease pressures. Vital life saving funding is critical as you have flagged, and I recognize that if funds diminish, the needs do not go away. Your focus on durable solutions and addressing root causes of displacement was also very much appreciated, as is your call for increased self-reliance opportunities. I thank Gambia's statements and welcome it for its continued commitment to protection, inclusion, and durable solutions, including its policy of enabling refugees to live alongside host communities. Your efforts to strengthen asylum and border procedures, address statelessness, and expand access to legal identity, education, and other essential services are noted with much appreciation and recognition. The tragedy of Xhinok indeed underscored the urgent need for coordinated search and rescue, safe disembarkation, and protection along migration routes. Thank you for highlighting these important needs. and for the call for stronger international solidarity and predictable support for refugees and host communities. Thank you, Sao Tome, for the underprinciple support for the Convention and to our 50 by 35 vision. I commend Sau Tomev and principal for its accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and for placing the prevention of statelessness, particularly among children, family on national agenda. Your emphasis on addressing gender-based violence and ensuring women and girls can access documentation, justice and protection is equally important as is your call for technical support, capacity building and predictable resources that reflect particular realities of a small island developing state. Thank you, Central African Republic, for outlining your national strategy for durable solutions for IDPs and returnees, and your important progress. We are particularly grateful for your efforts to carry out the tripartite discussions and the enabling of the go and see visits. These are important opportunities to work towards durable solutions. I also very much appreciate your response to spontaneous returns and yes, it is a strong sign of the situation in the country. I welcome your continued encouragement for people to return and support development of the country. Your work to adopt 14 return areas and making them centers for development is a good practice to see pursued. We look forward to continuing that support in these important initiatives. And I want to tell you that I should be visiting before long because we consider this a very important area. where we can really deliver tangible results for helping people make it back home. Thank you, Brazil, for your steadfast support for the Refugee Convention and refugee protection. Your focus on resolving conflict and enabling safe, voluntary and dignified returns is also critical, equally noting that it must be sustainable. Responsibility sharing, indeed, in that context, is important. I also very much appreciate your support to our reforms while stressing the need to preserve our operational and solution mandates. We are very much committed to this guiding compass to our work. I thank Azerbaijan for their statement and for your support of safe and dignified returns. The priority in this regard must be appreciated, as is the focus on the principle of leaving no one behind. Housing and employment projects are noted, together with the reconstruction rehabilitation efforts. The progress in the peace process, with the focus on durable peace and regional stability to enable solutions, is much appreciated. Thank you also for your commitments to implementing the pledges of the GRF and your open asylum space. I thank Ecuador for the support to our 50 by 35 vision and for your solidarity with the refugees and your strong support for UNHCR. Your leadership in protection, inclusion and self-reliance, especially in border communities, shows what practical responsibility sharing can achieve. Your work on mobile protection services and legal assistance in border areas are indeed good examples of effective cooperation, and I know that funding cuts are felt first at the border. I also note and agree that inclusion and self-reliance require sustained investment in education and livelihoods and economic opportunities and support for host communities. The support of private companies you have highlighted is also truly important. Thank you, Turkey, for your support to UNHCR and your words on our mandate. Importantly, thank you for your commitment to refugee protection. And much has to be said about appreciating and recognizing the many years of hospitality and accommodation for hundreds of thousands and millions of refugees from Syria and beyond. I recognize the growing responsibility placed on hosting states and hear loud and clear your call for greater solidarity and responsibility sharing with hosting countries. Short-term and unpredictable funding is truly a concern. I agree. And we hope to be able to work with states to address this in support of hosting states. I also welcome very much your support for our vision of 50 by 35 and to the need to address the root causes of displacement as well as our reform efforts. We will indeed preserve our protection and solutions mandate. through the reform process and will work to become more agile, cost-effective and efficient to better respond. I thank Tanzania for its continued commitment to refugee protection and durable solutions. We welcome progress on voluntary returns to the DRC and recognize Tanzania's long-standing support for the Burundian refugees. We, of course, share your concerns over severe funding shortfalls, and we will continue advocating for stronger responsibility sharing. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much, High Commissioner. Now, I'd like to go back to the list of speakers, and this time I'd like to give the floor to Yemen, please.

I said, but I'm sorry.

Mr. Barham Saleh, the High Commissioner for Refugees. At the outset, I would like to thank the Chairman for his opening remarks, and I would like to thank the High Commissioner for the key and important messages that he shared with us in his opening statement. The Republic of Yemen expresses its support for your vision since you assumed the leadership of the HCR and for the importance that you ascribe to sustainable solutions and the sharing of responsibilities as well as building stronger partnerships with the host communities and states. In Yemen, we look forward to working with you to translate this vision in the concrete world and elevating this partnership to a more positive and effective partnership in favor of refugees, IDPs, and host communities. It is a practical roadmap that all states could use and translate into a sustainable reality. Mr. High Commissioner, I speak to you today on behalf of the Republic of Yemen at a very difficult moment for my people. The Houthi military escalation has uprooted tens of thousands of Yemenis from their homes, adding yet another layer and wave of displacement, adding further to the suffering of millions of IDPs who have suffered long years of war. At the same time, Yemen, and despite exceptional circumstances and limited resources, continues to honor its obligations towards refugees and asylum seekers that found a safe haven in Yemen. We have chosen the path of peace, and we've contributed with the responsibility to the efforts to end the war. But this cannot hinge on a fait accompli forced by weapons. The ongoing escalation by the Houthi militias, supported by Iran, undermines the opportunities for peace and exacerbates the civilian suffering and leads to further displacement and destabilization of Yemen and the region. The Yemeni people cannot be hijacked to a war or a playing card in conflicts or agendas that serve neither its present nor its future. Mr. Chair, High Commissioner, Yemen is not just a country that suffers from internal displacement. It is also a host country that has been a safe haven for refugees for long decades, including in some of the darkest moments in our history. And we will continue to shoulder this humanitarian and international responsibility. But our country is facing the displacement of millions of our own citizens, as well as a humanitarian and economic crisis that is so deep that we cannot shoulder its responsibilities alone. As such, the Republic of Yemen has engaged with the Global Refugee Forum as a genuine framework for partnership and sharing responsibilities and burdens, not just as a platform for circulating pledges. The government of my country has presented a number of general pledges, including promoting the national legal framework for refugees and promoting access to education, health, and social protection, as well as livelihoods. in addition to accessing ID documents and sustainable solutions and financial inclusion, as well as promoting access to water, basic services, and climate resilience in host communities. In December 2024, the government has presented a national pathway at a high level in order to translate those pledges into national priorities and policies that are actionable. We'd like to reaffirm in this platform that the government of the Republic of Yemen will continue these commitments despite the severe financial and economic situation, as well as the exceptional circumstances that the country is going through. Sharing burdens and responsibilities must be a mutual commitment. And up until now, none of those pledges have been matched by financing within the framework of sharing burdens and responsibilities. We have every right to ask, how can a state that is host to refugees to be able to face internal displacement of millions of its own citizens while its resources are severely limited? Translating these commitments into reality without a strong international partnership can never happen. This is why I call upon the HCR to play a more effective role in aligning the pledges of Yemen with the pledges of donors and partners, while mobilizing technical, financial, and developmental support in order to make sure that we're able to translate those pledges into reality. My government will never renege on its own commitments and obligations, but we cannot be left alone to shoulder the burdens and responsibilities. Ladies and gentlemen, the new wave of displacement in my country happens at a time where we have more humanitarian needs and less resources. We need a more urgent response to IDPs and the needs of host societies. And we need to move from the year-by-year management of this crisis to a more long-term recovery process. Yemen is not asking the international community to stand in for the state. We are calling for a genuine partnership that allows us to fulfill our responsibilities and that protects the Yemeni people, as well as the refugees in such a way as to help our state to reach peace and recovery. Ladies and gentlemen, our people will always cling to its right to a state with fully restored institutions capable of protecting its people and to safeguard its sovereignty and guarantee peace and dignity for everyone who lives on our territory. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Vice Minister. Now, I'd like to give the floor to Botswana. Botswana, please.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Botswana aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the African Group and wishes to make the following remarks in its national capacity. Botswana wishes to express its appreciation to UNHCR, the Chair and the Bureau for their unwavering commitment to the protection of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and stateless populations around the world. Chairperson, Botswana thanks the High Commissioner, Mr. Bah Mansali, for his first statement to the Executive Committee, which was both impactful and thought-provoking, offering important guidance to the challenges and opportunities ahead. The world is witnessing unprecedented levels of forced displacement driven by conflict, insecurity, human rights violations, climate-related shocks, and socio-economic instability. With these challenges, our global nature, that impact is felt most acutely by developing countries, particularly in Africa, which continues to host large refugee population despite limited resources. Botswana remains firmly committed to its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol, and the 1969 OAU Convention. Guided by these instruments, we continue to uphold the principles of international protection while balancing humanitarian responsibilities with national development priorities. Our cooperation with UNHCR has enabled us to provide protection, shelter, healthcare, education, and other essential services to refugee and asylum seekers residing in Botswana. We remain convinced that refugees must not only be protected, but also empowered to live in dignity and contribute meaningfully to society. Chairperson. Allow me to share a recent example that demonstrates Botswana's commitment to durable solutions and inclusion. The government of Botswana recently granted citizenship to 64 residents of Duker Refugee Management Camp, which accommodates approximately 760 refugees. This reflects our belief that lasting solutions require more than protection alone. They require pathways to belonging, participation, and self-reliance. To facilitate their integration, government is supporting access to existing national development programs, including entrepreneurship and agricultural support initiatives. We have encouraged our new citizens to take advantage of opportunities provided through institutions such as Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency, enabling them to establish and expand businesses, create employment, and contribute to the economic growth of Botswana. This approach reflects our vision of transforming vulnerability into opportunity and dependence into self-reliance.

Chairperson.

Botswana also reiterated the importance of addressing the root causes of forced displacement through conflict prevention, peacebuilding, good governance, sustainable development, and the promotion and protection of human rights. Durable solutions can be achieved when people are able to live safely and with dignity in their countries of origin. In conclusion, Chairperson, Botswana reaffirms its unwavering support for UNHCR and its mandate. We remain committed to working with member states, international organizations, and other stakeholders to advance practical, humane, and sustainable solutions for refugee and displaced persons. Together, let us ensure that protection is accompanied by opportunity, that solidarity is matched by action, and that no displaced person is left behind. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Assistant Minister. Now, I would like to give the floor to the United States of America. Please.

Mr. High Commissioner, Chair, Excellencies, The 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention is an opportunity to consider the past, but more importantly, to critically examine the present and chart a new future. The Convention was written in the wake of World War II to address a specific European crisis, but today is applied unchanged across a globalized world its drafters could not have imagined. The gap between those origins and today's realities has brought the global asylum system to crisis. We can no longer view the convention solely through a humanitarian lens. Its social, economic, political, and security implications have come to the fore due to the use and abuse of asylum as a driver of mass migration. Millions of economic migrants, often supported by a well-funded constellation of NGOs, professional activists, and others, systematically exploit asylum principles to subvert national borders. Simply by uttering the magic word "asylum," migrants unlock years of expensive legal process. During that time, they can receive housing, healthcare, education, and even cash payments. These are framed as non-negotiable rights that must be funded by taxpayers in receiving states. The sheer number of those seeking such benefits overwhelms national systems, creating backlogs that make timely screening and removals difficult, if not impossible. The result is, in effect, open borders and a generous welfare state for anyone who merely claims persecution. It matters little that the Convention's text does not require these benefits. Decades of expansive interpretation much of it championed and directed by UNHCR, have made them in practice an inevitable part of the asylum system in Western countries. The United States has seen these abuses firsthand. Myriad so-called asylum seekers paid tens of thousands of dollars to smugglers, cross oceans and continents, pass through multiple safe countries, and entered America illegally to claim asylum. This is not fleeing persecution. A person running from danger stops once he's safe and goes home as soon as he's able. This is instead a calculated investment by economic migrants abusing the asylum system. That system has become politically unsustainable. If it is to last for the next 75 years, change is necessary. We ask UNHCR and fellow member states to seize this moment to reform our collective approach to asylum. That means tackling both pull and push factors. On both fronts, the United States is leading by example. On push factors, we're addressing failures of peace around the world, resolving and preventing conflicts, and creating the conditions for displaced people to return home. At the same time, U.S. domestic policy initiatives are eliminating the perverse incentives that act as pull factors. We've sealed our borders to break the nexus of illegal immigration and asylum abuse. We've stopped funding NGOs and others who promote open borders and mass migration. We're fast-tracking asylum adjudications while applying legal standards strictly and objectively to ensure that only legitimate cases receive protection. And we're ending asylum shopping through third country removals. The American people are not retreating from generosity. We remain the chief underwriter of the global humanitarian system, and we are resettling tens of thousands of victims of government sponsored racial discrimination. But we cannot support, politically or financially, a system that fosters mass migration. The United States stands ready to work with those who share a commitment to make the changes needed to preserve asylum for those who truly need it, in a manner consistent with the common good and the obligations a democracy owes to its own citizens. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now, I would like to give the floor to the Russian Federation. Russian Federation, please.

Distinguished Chairperson, Distinguished High Commissioner, in conflict and crisis situations, assistance to refugees is an integral part of comprehensive efforts to maintain international peace, security and stability. Russia positively assesses the role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in improving conditions for refugees, IDPs and stateless persons and strengthening their international protection. As a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, which in our country is responsible for regulating the legal status of asylum seekers, I would like to note the fruitful cooperation with the HCR office in Moscow. Humanitarian support in Russia for certain categories of persons on the basis of generally recognized principles and norms of international law is under the priority tasks approved by the concepts of state migration policy for 2026 to 30. In accordance with international obligations and the norms of national legislation, political asylum, refugee status and temporary asylum are granted in Russia. These make it possible to provide reliable protection in Russia to those who need it, regardless of state of origin, religion, national and racial affiliation. The main national instrument in the field of asylum, including defining the legal and social guarantees of applicants and asylum seekers, is the Federal Law on Refugees, which is fully aligned with the provisions of the Convention on the Status of Refugees, to which Russia has been a state party since 1993. To date, Russia has over 11,000 people from 87 countries with temporary asylum and refugee status in the country. To improve asylum mechanisms, support persons in need of temporary protection and taking into account the provisions of the Global Compact on Refugees, Russia is modernizing the legal foundations of the institution of asylum. Thus, from February 1st next year, as amendments to the federal law on the legal status of foreign citizens in Russia will come into force to optimize the adaptation procedure for Russian society of people holding asylum there. For them, residence permits will be issued without having to provide a certificate of no criminal record from outside Russia. Given that temporary protection is inextricably linked with other migration statuses and refugees, the comprehensive improvement of the institution of asylum is to be carried out, taking into account new digital solutions in migration security. We plan to systematise the asylum procedure, reduce time for considering an application for asylum and provide additional control mechanisms to prevent abuse of the right to asylum and protection on the part of foreign citizens Distinguished colleagues, in conclusion, I would like to say a few words about mechanisms to ensure the rights of stateless persons in Russia and reducing statelessness. The Federal Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation" provides the possibility of providing them with a temporary identity card. This document, which is valid for 10 years, with the possibility of extension, allows a stateless person temporarily to stay in Russia legally and work without additional permits. These persons also have the right to residence permits in accordance with the normal procedure. To date, about 7,000 people are staying in Russia with a temporary identity card of a stateless person. Another 2,500 stateless persons have a normal residence permit or temporary residence permit in Russia. Our country encourages the acquisition of Russian citizenship by stateless persons who permanently live there. That is the fundamental principle of reducing the number of persons in the stateless category based on principles of our Constitution. The 2022 Federal Law on Citizenship of the Russian Federation provides for simplification of the procedure for stateless persons to acquire citizenship, including the abolishment of the need for the requirement of residence permit and confirmation of proficiency in the Russian language, knowledge of Russian history, and the basics of the legislation of our country. Since 2025, these measures have allowed over 3,500 stateless persons to acquire Russian citizenship. Chairperson, in conclusion, allow me to confirm Russia's readiness to participate in solving the refugee problem, including through close interaction with HCR. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now, I would like to give the floor to Ethiopia, please.

High Commissioner, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Ethiopia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo on behalf of the African Group. The present statement also covers the agenda item on international protection, under which Ethiopia aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the African Group. On behalf of the Government and the people of Ethiopia, I would like to begin by expressing our appreciation to the ExCom Chair, person for his visit to Ethiopia. And we also would like to also warmly welcome the High Commissioner for his first meeting of the Executive Committee and express our appreciation for your participation in the World Refugee Day celebration and the launch of the Makadit Roadmap in Ethiopia. The international refugee protection system faces mounting challenges. with forced displacement at historic levels, growing humanitarian needs, and declining resources. For Ethiopia, which hosts more than 1.1 million refugees, the widening gap between needs and funding threatens essential services and protection. We must ensure that the pursuit of durable solutions reinforces, rather than compromises, the protection and assistance refugees need today. Despite these challenges, Ethiopia has remained steadfast in its commitment to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the principles of international protection. The Convention remains as relevant today as when it was adopted, and we reaffirm the importance of upholding its provisions. Mr. Chairperson, addressing forced displacement requires action not only to respond to its consequences, but also to prevent and resolve the crisis that drive it. Peace is indispensable to preventing displacement and creating the conditions for safe, voluntary, and dignified return. Humanitarian assistance remains essential, but it cannot substitute for conflict prevention, the peaceful settlement of disputes, regional cooperation, and sustained investment in peacebuilding. Climate change further compounds displacement risks and pressures on already vulnerable communities. As Ethiopia prepares to host COP32 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November 2027, we see an opportunity to strengthen the integration of climate action and refugee protection. We call for accessible climate finance and a greater investment in adaptation, resilient infrastructure and sustainable livelihoods in vulnerable refugee hosting areas, benefiting refugees and host communities alike. Inspired by the philosophy of Medemer, advanced by Prime Minister His Excellency Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia is advancing refugee inclusion and host community development through the nationally owned Inclusion Makata roadmap, launched in June 2026. Implementation is progressing through the National Steering Committee and inclusion capacity assessment and the preparation of regional implementation plans. To deliver tangible results, UNHCR must work closely with development partners and international financial institutions to mobilize sustained development investment. Ethiopia welcomes the High Commissioner's 50 by 35 vision and its ambition to advance refugee self-reliance. However, efforts to reduce humanitarian dependency are most effective when accompanied by continued humanitarian assistance. Sustainable self-reliance requires predictable investment in national systems, infrastructure, livelihoods and economic opportunities alongside continued protection and lifesaving assistance. Refugee inclusion should also be supported by adequate assistance to host communities and attention to their development needs. Achieving the transition to self-reliance requires predictable, adequate, and multi-year financing. National ownership and leadership are essential, but they cannot replace internationally responsibility sharing. As we look towards the 2027 Global Refugee Forum, the priority must be to translate existing commitments into tangible, measurable results. This requires sustained financial support, technical assistance, development investment, and meaningful private sector engagement. The credibility of our collective commitments will ultimately depend on the extent to which they deliver concrete improvements in the lives of refugees and host communities. Mr. Chairperson, Ethiopia recognizes the importance of UNHCR reform in strengthening efficiency, but budget reduction must not undermine the very inclusion and self-reliance objectives that UNHCR encourage host countries to pursue. Finally, excellencies, refugee protection requires strong international support and equitable responsibility sharing. We call on all member states to uphold the 1951 convention and stand with host countries like Ethiopia, ensuring that the responsibility for protection is shared fairly by all. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Director General. And once again, thank you very much for receiving our mission to Ethiopia. Thank you. Now, I'd like to give the floor to Kenya, please.

Canada, right?

Sorry, no, Kenya. Sorry. Okay.

Mr. Chair, did you mean to say Canada?

Well, in fact, according to my list, it's Kenya. There seems to be no representative from Kenya. Okay. Sorry for my pronunciation, but it's Canada, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Last month at the UN General Assembly, the Prime Minister of Canada reaffirmed our commitment to multilateralism, international law, peace and prosperity. As we mark the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, we should reflect on the place of international protection regime in the multilateral system and how we can commit to cooperation that is equitable and inclusive. Canada expresses its commitment to multilateralism and confidence in the resilience of the Convention and the international protection regime. Access to asylum remains a fundamental principle of international law and an essential feature of Canada's global commitment to humanitarian action. UNHCR's protection mandate and expertise are indispensable and that capacity must be preserved. We call on all member states to uphold these principles and to continue to recognize the importance of multi-stakeholder and whole of society engagement. Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to refugee resettlement and complementary pathways, which offer urgently needed durable solutions. We also recognize that UNHCR resources have further declined, internal reforms are ongoing, and the organization needs to prioritize. Developing a credible and transparent global budget model is urgent and essential, and effective governance will be crucial to the development and implementation of a new strategic direction. The 50 by 35 vision should guide how member states work together in support of refugees, host countries, and communities. Canada encourages its partners to commit to collective action on solutions and self-reliance leading to next year's Global Refugee Forum. We note that financial contributions to the UNHCR from Canadian private sector actors and the general public were nearly equal to that of the Government of Canada, a strong validation of support existing beyond traditional actors. We also firmly believe in the importance of refugee voices, local capacity and civil society. And in that spirit, I would like to hand over to my fellow delegate, Stella.

Mr. Chair, The Refugee Advisor Network of Canada is honored to participate and bring refugee perspectives and lived experiences to this session of ExCom. We recognize that protection, self-reliance, meaningful participation, and sustainable solutions are interconnected priorities in an effective refugee response. In a world affected by conflict, instability, displacement, and loss, refugees need protection, access to essential services, and opportunities to build self-dignified and independent lives. Such access can reduce prolonged dependence on humanitarian assistance, while enabling refugees to become self-reliant, contribute to their communities and host societies, and ultimately achieve durable solutions. We support an approach to programming that is protection-centered and evidence-based with continuous risk and vulnerability analysis, age, gender and diverse approaches, and strong coordination with humanitarian and development partners. Above else, refugees must be recognized as leaders, contributors and partners in shaping policies and programs that affect their lives. Meaningful participation should go beyond consultation and towards including refugees in design, implementation, and monitoring of responses. Participation combined with access can strengthen self-reliance, dignity, and resilience. We welcome the 50 by 35 initiative and encourage all stakeholders to build on the commitment of previous Global Refugee Forums. The Refugee Advisor Network of Canada remains committed to working with all partners to strengthen protection, advance self-reliance, expand solutions, and uphold the dignity, capacities, and aspirations of refugees. We are fortunate to have a foundation in the Convention, a contemporary framework in the capacity, and an opportunity at next year's forums. As Canada, we look forward to working collectively to seize it. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now, I would like to give the floor to Iceland, please. Iceland.

Thank you. Mr. Chair, High Commissioner, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, we warmly welcome you, High Commissioner, to your first Executive Committee session, and I want to assure you of Iceland's full support. We thank you for your opening remarks and welcome your commitment to strengthening protection and advancing durable solutions. We also take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to UNHCR staff and partners for their tireless work under increasingly difficult circumstances. Mr. Chair, we meet at a time when we are facing a growing number of protracted crises, often characterized by a complex interplay of conflict, climate change, external economic shocks, and a disconcerting lack of respect for international humanitarian law and for those who deliver lifesaving assistance. We remain deeply concerned by this trend and the persistent disregard for innocent lives and international humanitarian law. And so, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to international refugee protection. We recognize the challenges faced by countries managing complex refugee movements. These challenges must be addressed through international cooperation without compromising fundamental protection obligations. Mr. Chair, Iceland welcomes the High Commissioner's ambition to move beyond managing displacement towards finding lasting solutions. The 50 by 35 vision provides an important opportunity for collective action. Progress must be measured by improved protection, greater self-reliance, and sustainable solutions, not simply through reduced humanitarian assistance. Durable solutions must remain central to our efforts. Mr. Chair, the humanitarian funding crisis poses a grave threat to all people forced to flee, whether they be in Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, or elsewhere, because it limits UNHCR's ability to fulfill its protection mandate at a time when it has never been more important. We firmly believe that international solidarity must be demonstrated through concrete action, and so this year, Iceland has increased its contributions to UNHCR to over $5 million the highest level in the history of our partnership. Iceland remains a steadfast supporter of the principle of good humanitarian donorship, as showcased through continued commitment to flexible, predictable and sustained funding, including on earmarked contributions, which enable UNHCR to respond swiftly when and where the needs are greatest. We encourage other donors to strengthen their efforts in this regard. We welcome the High Commissioner's efforts to build a more effective and field-oriented organization, including through the humanitarian reset and the UNHAT initiatives. Iceland underlines that ongoing grief for must strengthen UNHCR's protection mandate and preserve the expertise needed to assist those most at risk. Mr. Chair, displacement amplifies pre-existing vulnerabilities and inequalities. In time of crises, women and girls face heightened risk of sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation. Further, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI+ persons, and other marginalized groups often encounter additional barriers to protection and suffer from formal or informal discrimination, pushing them into severe deprivation and vulnerability to abuse and violence. Iceland encourages the High Commissioner to ensure that gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights, including gender-based violence prevention, remain central to UNHCR's work. Continued leadership in addressing statelessness is also welcomed. Looking ahead to the Global Refugee Forum in 2027, we welcome the High Commissioner's emphasis on strengthening international cooperation and responsibility sharing in support of refugees and host communities. At a time of growing global uncertainty, our commitment to international law, the multilateral system and human dignity must remain unwavering. We look forward to working closely with you, High Commissioner, and your capable teams, as well as all partners, to ensure that the UNHCR can continue to fulfill its indispensable mandate. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now, I'd like to give the floor to Norway, please.

Thank you, Chair, High Commissioner, distinguished colleagues. In 2026, we marked 75 years since the adoption of the Refugee Convention. A cornerstone of international law, the Convention has protected millions of lives, given hope to people fleeing persecution and conflict, and shown that states can unite around shared rules and responsibilities. The Convention was born from the devastation of the Second World War. The generation that emerged from that experience understood that human dignity could not depend on the goodwill of the powerful. It had to be protected by law, institutions, and commitments shared by states. Today, the international order of which the Refugee Convention is an essential part is again under pressure. At the same time, the Convention is being tested by new realities, included protected displacement, mixed movements, and mounting pressure on asylum systems. Preserving asylum requires us both to defend the shared rules and responsibilities forged in the aftermath of war and to address the challenges of our time. We therefore welcome the High Commissioner's recognition that refugee protection and efforts to ease these pressures are not competing goals, but mutually reinforcing. Safeguarding asylum demands both an unwavering commitment to protection and a stronger focus on solutions. High Commissioner, Norway welcomes your vision to halve by 2035 the number of refugees trapped in protracted displacement and reliant on humanitarian assistance. Such assistance remains indispensable, but it cannot become an end in itself. The 50 by 35 vision rightly shifts the emphasis from managing displacement to delivering solutions. Greater inclusion and self-reliance can restore dignity and opportunity by making better use of scarce resources. Success will require investment in national systems and sustained support for both refugees and host communities. Norway stands ready to contribute. Chair, Protection must remain central to UNHCR's mandate. A smaller operational footprint must not weaken protection monitoring, advocacy or delivery. We are particularly concerned about cuts to child protection and to efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence. We stress the need to protect LGBTQI+ persons of concern. We also underscore UNHCR's continuing importance for internally displaced persons through its protection role, cluster coordination responsibilities, and work to advance durable solutions. These needs are especially acute in today's major displacement crisis. Russia's brutal and illegal war against Ukraine continues to inflict immense suffering. The conflict in Sudan has produced one of the gravest displacement crises in decades. Meanwhile, developments in Syria may create greater scope for voluntary return and sustainable reintegration, provided adequate support is maintained. High Commissioner, Norvik recognizes the profound financial challenges confronting UNHCR and the wider humanitarian system. and the exceptional dedication of UNHCR staff who continue to deliver under extremely difficult conditions. We welcome your efforts to build a more agile, effective and field-focused organization. As UNHCR moves into implementation, alignment with broader UN reform efforts, including UN80 and the humanitarian reset, will be essential. Reform must preserve the expertise, protection capability and operational presence needed to fulfill UNHCR's mandate.

Okay, okay.

Local... I will resume. Local, national, refugee-led organizations are also vital to delivering protection and advancing solutions. As UNHCR adapts to financial constraints, these partnerships should be strengthened, not weakened. To conclude, Norway will remain a steadfast supporter of UNHCR. We will continue to provide substantial, flexible and predictable funding and encourage others able to do so to follow suit. I thank you.

Thank you very much and I'm sorry for this disruption. We are going to try, we're going to find out why this has happened. Yeah, so that's a microphone system technical thing, but thank you very much for your understanding. Thank you. Now, I would like to give the floor to Malawi, please. Malawi.

Commissioner, Excellencies, I take this opportunity to convey the warm greetings of the government and the people of the Republic of Malawi. Malawi aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African group and reiterates its call for strengthened international solidarity, responsibility sharing, and predictable support for countries hosting refugees and asylum seekers. Malawi has continued to undertake a range of measures aimed at strengthening the protection and management of refugees and asylum seekers. while also contributing to the regional efforts in the areas of migration, peace and security. Malawi hosted the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, as well as the SADC Public Security Sub-Committee. This engagement provided an important platform for regional cooperation on security, migration management, transnational crime, and other challenges affecting the movement, protection, and well-being of populations across the region. At national level, Malawi continues to uphold its longstanding tradition of providing protection and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. We continue to receive persons fleeing conflict, persecution, and other circumstances in search of international protection. However, the increasingly complex nature of forced displacement, coupled with irregular migration and movements along transnational routes, continues to place considerable pressure on national systems, public services, and host communities. Chairperson, Zaatari refugee camp remains at the center of many of these challenges. Malawi recognizes that the responsibility for protecting and assisting refugees is a shared international responsibility. While the government continues to provide resources within its means, the scale and complexity of the needs have gone beyond what the government can sustainably address on its own. Despite these challenges, Malawi has made important progress since the last session of the Executive Committee. Malawi has continued to strengthen its refugee status determination system. The government has made significant progress in 2026 with 939 refugee status determination decisions made during the year. This progress demonstrates the government's continued commitment to ensuring that persons seeking international protection have access to fair, credible, and timely procedures. Malawi is advancing the review of the 1989 Refugees Act. The review process has progressed significantly. This is an important step towards strengthening Malawi's legal and institutional framework for refugee protection and asylum management, and ensuring that it remains responsive to contemporary displacement and migration challenges. Malawi continues to pursue durable solutions for refugees. Voluntary repatriation remains an important solution for refugees who freely and voluntarily wish to return to their countries of origin. We are encouraged that a number of refugees and asylum seekers continue to express interest in returning voluntarily to their respective countries of origin. Malawi will continue to facilitate and support voluntary voluntary repatriation where conditions permit and where returns can take place in a safe, dignified, and genuinely voluntary manner. Chairperson, Malawi's efforts to address the long-standing overcrowding at Ndzaleka refugee camp also continue. The government identified Kailis in Chitipa District as a new settlement site. The site was secured following consultations and engagements that commenced in 2023. The development of Kailis is intended to help ease the pressure on Nsaleka while providing refugees and asylum seekers with improved opportunities for access to essential services, livelihoods, agricultural activities, education, and other avenues for self-reliance. However, progress towards developing the site remains limited. Malawi, therefore, renews its appeal to UNHCR, international partners, and donors to support the development of Kailis. The government has demonstrated its commitment by making land available and continuing to engage with partners. Nevertheless, the development of a settlement of this scale requires resources and technical support that are beyond the capacity of the government alone. Chairperson, we are particularly concerned about the current situation regarding food and other basic assistance at Nzalika refugee camp. For many years, humanitarian partners, including World Food Programme, have provided essential food assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. However, severe funding constraints have affected the continuation of this vital assistance. As of September 2026, the food assistance previously provided through the World Food Programme has stopped, leaving a significant gap in the provision of food and other essential items at Nzarika refugee camp. At present, there is no partner able to provide the level of food and essential items assistance that was previously available. At the same time as UNHCR has scaled down some of its support, a number of partners that previously received support through the humanitarian response have also reduced or ceased their activities. However, the current situation requires renewed, urgent and predictable support. We therefore appeal to the international community to provide Malawi with the resources and technical support required to protect refugees and asylum seekers, support host communities, develop Kailis, sustain essential services, and expand opportunities for durable solutions. Malawi remains committed to the principles of international protection and to working closely with UNHCR, Member States, SADC and all our partners to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers in Malawi are protected, respected and treated with dignity. Let us continue to uphold the principle that responsibility for refugees is a shared responsibility. Let us strengthen solidarity, deepen cooperation, and ensure that no host country is left to confront the challenges of forced displacement alone. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you very much. Now I give the floor to Chile, please.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much, Chairperson. Chile aligns itself with this statement made by Colombia on behalf of GRULAC, and we'd like to add a few additional elements in its national capacity. Distinguished High Commissioner, Excellencies, this year we have been apprised of various components of the transformation being undergone by this institution, various changes to the national model, a revision of its structure and a significant reduction in staff, as well as modifications in the way that requirements are being conveyed into budgetary priorities and an emphasis on protection and solutions. We do understand that these processes are a mirror of financial restrictions, but they also are responding to a more wide-ranging reflection concerning the role being played by UNHCR. And it's particularly because of the depth of those changes that we believe that it is essential to understand with clarity the vision that has brought them together. Various elements of these visions are present in the budget and the reforms underway. And they are reflected in the 50 by 35 vision, as well as an organisation that is more streamlined and focused and evolution towards intervention modalities, which provide more support to national systems, alliances and catalytic focuses. In that context, we do hope that the new strategic guidelines will which are now expected to be the compass of the organization for the forthcoming years, will be published as soon as possible in order to provide that common framework. At the same time, we believe that it's essential to clarify the various elements which are guiding the concepts already impacting planning and budget, such as comparative advantages within UNHCR, strategic recalibration, focusing protection and assistance, and the future architecture of human resources and operational presence on the ground. We're not only talking about conceptual definitions. These criteria will have an impact on resource prioritization, operational presence, and UNHCR's intervention modalities. That, in turn, will determine which operations will continue to be played directly by UNHCR and how it will develop these through its national systems and partners, as well as under which conditions during the transition can create these. These decisions can have a direct cumulative effect on the capacity to protect and the support for states, as well as preserving knowledge and experience on a regional level. A more focused organization doesn't need to mean less capacity to carry out the roles directly under the nucleus of the mandate. From this point of view, we are concerned by the scale of the reduction in staff. And as Grilak said, in the Americas, we are seeing a drop of around 40% of posts. That, we believe, will directly impact the implementation of the Cartagena + 40 Chile Action Plan. We've also taken note that this transformation is being inserted into processes beyond the UN system, such as UN 80 and humanitarian reorganization. We understand that the budget, in terms of the budget, the UNHCR will be actively participating in these processes, particularly in spheres related to common services, supply change, data and humanitarian planning and coordination. Nonetheless, The States have received to date limited information concerning the specific contribution of UNHCR to these processes and how this could have an impact on the future model of work. It's important to understand which elements are being reviewed for potential implications for the various operations, roles and capacities of UNHCR. As we deal with a transformation of such a large scale, it's essential to have a strategic shared vision as well as clear perspectives that are shared with the States in order that we might support each other in an informed fashion. Finally, High Commissioner, Chair, Chile reiterates its commitment to a flexible and effective multilateralism, which places human beings at its heart and contributes with conviction to the work that brings us to this important meeting today. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now I would like to give the floor to the High Commissioner for responses.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me start by acknowledging the statement from the representative of Yemen. And I do appreciate the very difficult circumstances that Yemen is faced with, and I hope And aspiration is to see this conflict brought to an end and this unfortunate tragedy, deplorable violence are brought to an end. And I thank you for your support for our vision and your offer to work with us in the implementation as a practical roadmap in Yemen. And also, I do want to appreciate the work that you're doing in providing protection and extending it to IDPs and refugees that have taken place in the country. Thank you for engaging in the GRF and highlighting your commitment through policy changes and the national pathway to transforming these pledges into action is important and we welcome it. At the same time, I note your concern that your pledges need international partnership. We will continue working on matching pledges with support, and this will be an important priority for all of us in the year leading up to the GRF. I want to thank Botswana for noting the challenges faced by African states, including around climate shocks leading to displacement. We're grateful to the inclusive support you are providing refugees and your commitment to enabling them to contribute to the societies where they live, developing businesses and transforming vulnerability into opportunities and dependence into self-reliance. through work opportunities is a strong message. Thank you, and your grant in citizenship is also really welcome and appreciated. Thank you to the United States for years of support and partnership with UNHCR. This has meant help and support to so many people in need. And thank you also for flagging the very real challenges faced by states. We agree that asylum systems need reform and must be protected against abuse. I have said that on many occasions and I think we're mindful of the many challenges that has evolved along the way. States face real operational, financial and political challenges and policy changes that strengthen timely, fair decisions making and address misuses are really needed. UNHCR strongly believes that the challenges can be addressed effectively and in full respect of state sovereignty while protecting refugees. The Convention provides the framework that distinguish those in need of international protection from those who are not. And it properly implemented can be both safeguarding refugees' rights and importantly also preserve public confidence in asylum system. The asylum system is meant for a unique category of people as defined by the convention. It's not meant to be a doorway for migration and immigration. and does not violate the state sovereignties in order to protect their borders. And therefore, we are affirming our readiness to stand in support of states meeting these real challenges, including stronger systems, efficient procedures, and practical cooperation while ensuring that refugees genuine refugees can access protection to which they are entitled. And we are committed to supporting states in providing that protection where refugees first arrive with the need for international support. And I agree that the real work in addressing this fundamental problem is through peace, conflict resolution, and preventing conflicts and creating conditions that for displaced people to return home safely and voluntarily. This is, at the end of the day, is what most refugees really want, to return to their homes in safety, dignity. I want to thank the representative of the Russian Federation for recognizing UNHCR's work, and I welcome the attention given to strengthening and modernizing the asylum system, including efforts to make procedures more efficient and accessible, while ensuring that robust protection safeguards remain at their center. We're also ready to support the finalization of the new law granting asylum on the territory of the Russian Federation. I also note with appreciation the measures to provide documentation, residence, and pathways to citizenship for stateless people. Thank you, Ethiopia, for your statement and also for covering the agenda item on international protection. I agree with you that pursuant of durable solution must go hand in hand with needed protection pending these solutions. and I also fully appreciate your focus on peace, noting that humanitarian assistance cannot substitute for peace. Thank you also for recalling that you will be hosting the COP in November 2027, and I note your call for increased support for climate financing. Your work on inclusion, including on the Mekatit policy, is also highly valued. This is a remarkable important policy initiative. And we have noted your understandable ask that diminished financial resources should not impact on support of this important policy initiative and vision. Canada, thank you for your express commitment and confidence in the resilience of the convention and your support for the international protection regime. I also very much appreciate the support to the 50 by 35 vision and your call that guides how member states work together in support of refugees, host countries, and communities. Your call for partners to commit collective action on solutions and self-reliance leading to next year's Global Refugee Forum is important, as your commitment to complementary pathways is. The space you create for meaningful refugee participation through inclusion of the Stella on your delegation is also a very good practice to be followed. Thank you, Stella, for your comments, recalling that meaningful participation should go beyond consultation towards including refugees in the design, implementation and monitoring responses. This is an important message to all of us. Thank you again. To Iceland, I want to say thank you to your statement and for recognizing the need to support in countries managing complex refugee movements. Your support to 50 by 35 is also much appreciated, noting the focus on increasing self-reliance and sustainable solutions and not reduced humanitarian assistance. Your commitment to good humanitarian donorship is highly valued, including through your commitment to flexible, predictable and sustainable funding. Thank you for that. And you have heard, we have heard you and agree that our reforms must not be at the expense of our protection mandate. That is our core, that is our fundamental. This is definitely indeed our compass. And thank you, Norway, for your statement and noting that refugee protection and efforts to ease pressures are on competing ground. I appreciate very much your support for the 50 by 35 vision, noting that humanitarian assistance remains indeed indispensable, but it is not an end in itself. That is exactly the point. I've also heard your call for protection remaining central to our mandate and need to safeguarding expertise as reforms are undertaken. I too am concerned to safeguard our capacities to protect refugee children, responding to violence against women and carry out our other important protection work. I sincerely hope we can continue receiving the needed support to do this work. Thank you, Malawi. for the statement and for your work to strengthen protection and contribute to the broader regional work in the field. I appreciate pressures placed on your systems with expanded irregular movements, and I have noted the call this work to be carried out through a shared platform. Progress you have made, including in the refugee status determination process, in your country is welcomed and we look forward to continuing to work with you in this regard, including reviewing your Asylum Act. Thank you, Chile, for the statement, and I take note of your call for clearer strategic guidelines and will continue engaging with Member States in its development. Your call on transparent criteria for prioritization and operational presence and close engagement with Member States is also noted and is very much part of our engagement. And indeed, to recall, our transformation is intended to protect, not weaken, UNSCR's core mandate and capacity. We recognize the concern over staffing reductions in the Americas and the potential impact on Cartagena +40. We must work together to continue seeking funding to enable our support so that important advances are not weakened. We will also continue to engage closely with States and provide greater visibility on the implications of UNHAT and the humanitarian recess. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much, High Commissioner, for your responses. Now let me go back to the list of speakers. Now I wish to give the floor to Thailand. Thailand, please.

Mr. Chair, High Commissioner, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the delegation of Thailand, I would like to congratulate Mr. High Commissioner on his appointment. Thailand looks forward to working closely with you and your team. and to welcoming you on a visit to our country at a mutually convenient time. Against the backdrop of humanitarian crisis, compounded by the global trend of declining humanitarian funding and the increasingly complex mixed movement, Thailand believes that international burden and responsibility sharing remains vital. Mr. Chair, I'm pleased to share key development this year as follows. First, Since the government adoption of the policies that allows Myanmar displaced person, or MDPs, to work outside temporary shelter in 2025, over 6,800 MDPs have successfully entered the labor market. They are working across diverse sectors, from agriculture, manufacturing, to hospitality, improving their livelihood for the better. This policy demonstrates Thailand's commitment to finding self-reliant solutions for the MDPs. It also aligns with the High Commissioner's 50 by 35 vision that aims to advance durable solutions for protected displacement. Thailand has developed a roadmap on the implementation of the said policy, aimed at facilitating the shift from a dependency to sustainable self-reliance. We would appreciate continued support on ensuring the sustainability of the policy, particularly during this transitional period. Thailand is aware that legal identity is essential for individuals to be recognized before the law and to enable their access to basic services. To date, the government has issued over 2,700 official non-Thai identity cards to the MDPs. As for the health care and services, the MDP who reside in the temporary shelters can now access health insurance administered by the Ministry of Public Health. Those who work outside the temporary shelters are entitled to health insurance similar to other migrant workers. Second, ending statelessness remains our priorities. Since the 2024 Cabinet resolutions aimed at expediting permanent residencies and nationality acquisition, over 140,000 stateless persons, or approximately 29% of the target population, have been granted citizenship or permanent residency. The implementation period of the said Cabinet resolution has been extended to ensure that the remaining target stateless population can benefit from the scheme. This progress represents one of the most significant milestones in Thailand's effort to eradicate statelessness and reaffirm our commitment as a founding member of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness. Earlier this year, Thailand also adopted an action plan on resolving statelessness in line with our pledge at the GIF. Third, Thailand continues to attach importance to the homegrown National Screening Mechanism, or NSM, to ensure that those in need of protection receive appropriate protection. Thailand will continue to work closely and seek support from UNHCR including through UNSCR-supported asylum capacity support group, to further strengthen our NSM. Lastly, in recognition of the immense hardship faced by the Rohingya population, Thailand will continue to do its part in providing humanitarian assistance, consistent with its pledge made at the second GRF in 2023. Thailand has recently adopted a community-based approach alternative to immigration detention for Rohingya children to better protect their rights and ensure their access to services. Four pilot provinces, including Bangkok, have been designated to implement this initiative. Thailand look forward to joining the ExCom side event on 14 October 2026. on strengthening national system and expanding opportunities to share our experiences on the policies that allow MDPs to work outside temporary shelters and to exchange view on fighting sustainable durable solution for displaced person. In closing, Thailand stand ready to continue working closely with UNHCR and the international community We look forward to participating constructively during this session, as well as in the upcoming High Commissioner's Dialogue on Protection and Solution in December. I thank you.

Thank you very much. Now, I'd like to give the floor to Benham.

Benham, please.

Thank you very much, Chairperson, Your Excellencies, Mr. High Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegation, your excellencies, delegates, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, the delegation of the Republic of Benin is honored to take the floor on the occasion of the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Program. On behalf of the Government of Benin, we would like to welcome the undying efforts made by the UNHCR to support those who have been displaced forcibly and, indeed, the search for lasting solutions, as well as the support given to States which are hosting refugees. Benin reaffirms its commitment to the principles for the international protection of refugees and asylum seekers as founded on the Geneva Convention of 1951 on refugee status and its additional protocol of 1967, as well as the protection instrument which was rolled out by the African Union. which deals with the specific characteristics of refugees in Africa, as well as solidarity and shared burden sharing between states in a regional context characterized by persistent security crises and an increase in forced displacement. The government of Benin is continuing its efforts to ensure effective protection for those who are forced to flee their countries. High Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, The principle of non-refoulement remains at the heart of Benin's approach to asylum and international protection. The government of Benin reaffirms its commitment to lending those seeking international protection access to its territory and the asylum process in line with its international commitments. We will also place particular attention on the matter of the protection of women, children and those with specific requirements, as well as the prevention and response to gender-based violence and other protection risks. The UN is well aware that the principle of non-refoulement also protects those seeking asylum whose status has not yet been determined. Given the new flows of people who have been displaced forcibly into the north of the country, Benin has placed particular focus on its registration capacity and bolstering its protection capacity. In this light, the government of Benin, with the support of its humanitarian and development partners, in particular the World Bank, through its social cohesion project for the region of the North Guinea Gulf and Kozou, has placed a massive emphasis on supporting the new arrivals, particularly in the northern border zones of Kakabadi. High Commissioner Binin is also making an effort to bring asylum services close to those who have been displaced by force. And in that regard, we have chosen to decentralize our asylum services by setting up two regional offices. and the permanent secretary for the National Commission and responsible for statelessness and refugees in the Takora and Leliberi departments has been working hard on this. These regions have been receiving large numbers of asylum seekers. And with the COSO project, Benin is working to operationalize its services, its particularly decentralized services, to ensure biometric registration, guidance, and access to the asylum process as well as the management of the protection requirements of those under its mandate. Benin is continuing its efforts in terms of documentation rollout, in particular in terms of asylum registration, laissez-passer, and a travel permit, all of which come under the 1951 Convention. In this light, Benin has particularly worked on the WAI project, the West Africa Unique Identification project for regional integration and inclusion, in order to ensure a personal ID number is given to each individual seeking asylum and refugees. This step will contribute to strengthening legal and administrative identification and facilitating access to the different social services given by the government in order to ensure socio-economic inclusion and avoid discrimination. International protection, however, cannot be disconnected from the search for lasting solutions, and Benin is delighted to have concluded a tripartite agreement in this light with the government of Burkina Faso and UNHCR. This is on free and voluntary repatriation of Burkina Faso refugees. This was signed in Lome in September 2026 in the context of the sub-regional rollout of protection and solutions. That's 2026 to 2030, the Lome Agreement. This incorporates a cooperation agreement which will be triggered When the conditions are in place, the safe, dignified and lasting return of Burkina Faso refugees will be assured. We would like to reaffirm that all return should be based on its free and informed nature. in terms of the decision of the person in question, as well as the safety and dignity of the conditions of return. The signing of this agreement constitutes a key step in our search for a lasting solution and illustrates the relevance of a regional approach which is founded on cooperation between countries of origin, asylum countries, host countries, and UNHCR. High Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Benin remains convinced that the protection of refugees remains a shared responsibility and we therefore call for the strengthening of international solidarity and support to host countries, in particular those confronting significant population flows in complex regional contexts. The Benin government finally renews its thanks to the High Commissioner of UNHCR as well as all of the partners for their undying support. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now I would like to give the floor to Eritrea. Eritrea, please.

Mr. Chairperson, Mr. High Commissioner, distinguished delegates, the delegation of the State of Eritrea welcomes the new High Commissioner and takes the floor today to reiterate its strong rejection of the UNHCR's updated eligibility guidelines on Eritrea issued earlier this year. In our view, the guideline reflects procedural bad faith and institutional bias. These concerns are not new. Successive UNHCR guidelines pursued strategic depopulation of Eritrea's youth, not as incidental consequence, but as part of a broader regime change agenda pursued by its major donors. Mr. Chair, my delegation wishes to remind this august house that these guidelines are fundamentally flawed in their origin, methodology, and outcomes. To mention but a few, first, this latest guideline its previous editions was circulated without proper consultation with the state concerned. Second, the document itself acknowledges significant information gaps and an inability to verify conditions within Eritrea. Its exclusive reliance on limited group of external parties and unverified claims, while bypassing UN agencies present in the country, appears to reflect an institutional choice rather than an operational necessity. Third, these UNHCR guidelines granted Eritreans prima facie refugee status. This has resulted in one of the biggest resettlement frauds, where Eritrean refugee resettlement slots were sold or allocated to foreigners. By some estimates, as many as 60% of those resettled in Western countries under Eritrean quotas are not Eritreans. Fourth, UNHCR prioritized facilitating departures from Eritrea over ensuring adequate protection for those who left. The consequences were catastrophic. Thousands were kidnapped, trafficked, raped, enslaved, tortured. Some had their organs harvested, and many lost their lives. Mr. Chair, Distinguished delegates, we must recognize the risk of policies that may encourage young people to leave their countries and expose them to dangerous migration routes, trafficking networks, and exploitation. Eritrea calls for an immediate end to the misuse of asylum guidelines. Genuine protection should be based on individualized assessments and verifiable evidence without creating incentives for people to leave their countries. Humanitarian language cannot shield policy choices from scrutiny of their foreseeable consequences. Protection must never become a means of draining developing nations of their most valuable resources, the young people. UNHCR's responsibility is to uphold the integrity of international protection, not to perpetuate contested assessments simply because they have become entrenched over time. The Office's credibility depends on its willingness to acknowledge shortcomings, address past failures, and withdraw guidelines that are disconnected from realities on the ground. In conclusion, these guidelines are fundamentally flawed and cannot be legitimized through further revision. Eritrea therefore rejects further amendments to existing framework and reiterates its call for guidelines to be fully withdrawn and formally retracted. Until then, Eritrea will continue to uphold its sovereignty, pursue its national development, and safeguard the future of its youth. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now, can I give the floor to the High Commissioner for comments?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me start by thanking Thailand for the important statement and also for your kind invitation, to which I look forward to obliging. Your decision to allow Myanmar refugees to enter the labor market, this is quite a significant development and is noted with much appreciation. And indeed, this is very much aligned with what we are speaking about in terms of 50 by 35, in terms of self-reliance. It's a concrete example and we are grateful and noted, as I said, with great appreciation. Your granting of citizenship or permanent residency to stateless population is indeed, yet again, Another very much welcomed step taken by Thailand showing a strong leadership for protection of stateless persons. We look forward to continued working closely with you, including through the Asylum Capacity Support Group leading up to the GRF. Thank you, Benin, for your express commitment to access protection and the principle of non-refoulement. I have also noted with appreciation your registration effort amid security concerns and pressures, and in particular, the opening up of the antenna asylum offices in two regions receiving refugees and asylum seekers and extending protection, including biometric registration and documentation in those regions. Your work in pursuing solutions, including through the signing of the tripartite agreement with Burkina Faso to enable voluntary and safe returns is also recognized with much appreciation. Thank you, Eritrea, for your statement. I note your concern with the updated eligibility guidelines, and please also equally note that the extensive engagement that our office has had on this, and I understand over the past many months. I invite you, as always, to continue engaging with our Assistant High Commissioner for Protection. I would very much like to be able to address these issues directly, and I can assure you, without getting into the details of your statement, we are not in the business and will not be in the business, cannot allow the Office of the High Commissioner to be in the business of really applying these guidelines in a selective way. I, again, note your concerns and I very much welcome continued conversations and discussions with your good self, sir. Thank you so very much, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much, High Commissioner. Now, I'd like to suspend the list of speakers. But let me, before concluding this meeting, I would just like to explain the sound intervention earlier when Norway was speaking. What we found was that there was a technical trial upstairs on the eighth floor, and by mistake, somebody pressed a button to this hall. That's why we heard the sound. This was a technical error, and I'm sorry for that. Now, before we adjourn the meeting, I'll give the floor to the Secretary for announcements.

Thank you, Chairperson. Good afternoon, distinguished delegates. I wish to inform you that a side event titled "From Safeguards to Solutions: 65 Years of Preventing Statelessness" will take place tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. in Concordia Room 1, located on level 2 below us. Thank you, Chairperson.

Thank you very much, Ms. Kher. Now, it's a little bit early, but it's always nice to be slightly ahead of time. So I would like to adjourn this meeting for tomorrow. Thank you very much.