The aim of the meeting was to mark the first anniversary of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants as well as to provide an update on the global compact on refugees and global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.

New York, September 20, 2017 – The International Migration Network Scalabrini (SIMN) participated at the High-Level Meeting “the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants: One Year On” on September 20, 2017. The event was co-organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Office of the United Nations Special Representative for International Migration (OSRSG), and it was attended by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, UN Special Representative for International Migration, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, Permanent Missions, and civil society organizations. 

The New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants expresses the political will of world leaders to save lives, protect rights and share responsibility on a global scale. The event served as a high-level briefing on the global compact on refugees and the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.

“In this first anniversary of the New York Declaration, UN Agencies, Member States, and civil society organizations are reviewing their commitments both to address together the issues we face now and to respond adequately to the future challenges of migrants and refugees through the two compacts”, said the Executive Director of SIMN.

About SIMN – SIMN is supporting more than 250 Scalabrinian centers, shelters and programs that are providing lodging, food, training and employment programs; psychological and religious services; protection to victims of human trafficking and support in the integration process to migrants, refugees and seafarers in five continents. In 2016, for example, Scalabrinian Centers has supported 120,738 migrants and refugees and 172,790 seafarers around the world. SIMN is also supporting a network of schools providing education, school supplies, and food, (possibly their only meal of the day) to thousands of needy children. In addition, SIMN is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS) and from this perspective is providing research and support for regional and global policies to protect and promote the dignity and the rights of migrants and their families.