The DPI -NGO (Department of Information) briefing this morning – The Refugee Crisis: Rethinking and Strengthening the Response.  The briefing is recorded on Webcast   See the agenda for today and list of panel presenters HERE   Karen AbuZayd,  is the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants. The summit will be held at the General Assembly on 19 September 2016. Presently there is a request to share any written submissions outlining your concerns, expectations and specific recommendations about what the United Nations should achieve at the Summit in New York on 19 September 2016. Written submissions may be directed by email to the following address: Calhoun@un.org. Please share your submission by 29 February.

I made an intervention Marker 1.15 on the Webcast  While having had good input from Sr Hanan I really used the opportunity to say that Good Shepherd have been in Lebanon/Syria for 123 years and to make reference to root causes –  military expenditures.  There are resources – how stop selling arms that create the problem in the first place?  How can the political powers – and we heard of political will this morning – let go of self interest in the interest of the person who is being made a refugee through no fault of their own? How can we stop the terrorists groups?  I drew these ideas from our Chapter Declaration.

The link with Sustainable Development Goals was also made: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies.  Read more about Goal 16