\n<\/em>The deadly attacks on a UN aid convey in Syria overnight, are a horrifying reminder of the day-to-day terror of life in a warzone, and of the life-or-death predicaments that compel so many to take perilous journeys in the hope of finding refuge and safety.<\/p>\nIt is virtually impossible for any of us to know what we would do in the face of such tragic circumstances.<\/p>\n
But what we are able to do, is to decide how we chose to respond to the desperate plight of others.<\/p>\n
The refugee and humanitarian crisis facing our world is of a scale that has not been seen since World War II, with more than 65 million vulnerable people having been forcibly displaced.<\/p>\n
Their plight is humanity\u2019s shared responsibility.<\/p>\n
These people are in desperate need of compassion and understanding. They also need practical help \u2013 services, opportunity, and the chance to build a new life.<\/p>\n
A global response is required.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the UN General Assembly took an important step, when leaders adopted the New York Declaration \u2013 the first UN agreement dedicated to addressing both refugees and migrants.<\/p>\n
The Declaration reflected a collective commitment to do more to address the crisis, including supporting the countries most affected, and increasing humanitarian assistance.<\/p>\n
But these commitments now need to translate into concrete actions – increased resettlements, real policy changes, and additional financial support.<\/p>\n
That is why today\u2019s Summit is so important.<\/p>\n
I thank the co-hosts for their leadership in galvanizing the political momentum that began with yesterday\u2019s adoption of the New York Declaration, and I commend the countries that have today made pledges. These commitments begin the process of implementing the New York Declaration, and will bring must needed relief to desperate people.<\/p>\n
I call on others States to consider what more they can do.<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Implemented effectively, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will help to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, sustain peace, and alleviate many of the causes driving refugees from their homes.<\/p>\n
It is imperative therefore that we step up our efforts to implement the SDGs.<\/p>\n
This is why I have made the principle objective of my Presidency of the 71st<\/sup> Session of the General Assembly, overseeing a universal push towards implementation all 17 of the SDGs.<\/p>\nThere can, after all, be no sustainable development without sustainable peace.<\/p>\n
In line with the New York Declaration, during the 71st<\/sup> Session I will also take forward the commitment of the UN membership to begin a process leading to a Global Compact on Migration, beginning with the imminent appointment of co-facilitators, as well as a comprehensive refugee response framework that will complement the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.<\/p>\nThe political will, and willingness to contribute, demonstrated at the today\u2019s Summit will help to create a conducive environment to move these processes forward.<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Having borne witness to so much displacement and suffering over recent months, it is encouraging to see the international community come together to take its first steps towards building a global response that will save lives, protect rights, and share the responsibility of the refugee crisis amongst us all.<\/p>\n
We must now build on this with ambition and humanity.<\/p>\n
I thank you.<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Remarks by H.E. Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly at\u00a0Leaders\u2019 Summit on Refugees \u00a020 September 2016 \u00a0 Distinguished Heads of State and Government, Excellencies, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":202,"featured_media":71380,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[3180,3392,1186,656,1341],"class_list":["post-70648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-statements","tag-latest-news","tag-leaders-summit","tag-migrants","tag-obama","tag-refugees"],"yoast_head":"\n
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Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly at\u00a0Leaders\u2019 Summit on Refugees \u00a020 September 2016 \u00a0 Distinguished Heads of State and Government, Excellencies, […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/71\/2016\/09\/20\/remarks-at-leaders-summit-on-refugees\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"General Assembly of the United Nations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-09-21T00:30:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2016-09-21T20:00:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2016\/09\/Final_Refugee_logo_NYC_400_1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"260\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Katharina Kandt\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katharina Kandt\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/71\/2016\/09\/20\/remarks-at-leaders-summit-on-refugees\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/71\/2016\/09\/20\/remarks-at-leaders-summit-on-refugees\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Katharina Kandt\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/71\/#\/schema\/person\/06bf09e43d46846c087701ec99ac8412\"},\"headline\":\"Remarks at Leaders\u2019 Summit on Refugees\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-09-21T00:30:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-09-21T20:00:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/71\/2016\/09\/20\/remarks-at-leaders-summit-on-refugees\/\"},\"wordCount\":569,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/71\/2016\/09\/20\/remarks-at-leaders-summit-on-refugees\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2016\/09\/Final_Refugee_logo_NYC_400_1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"latest news\",\"leaders summit\",\"migrants\",\"Obama\",\"refugees\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Statements\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/71\/2016\/09\/20\/remarks-at-leaders-summit-on-refugees\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/71\/2016\/09\/20\/remarks-at-leaders-summit-on-refugees\/\",\"name\":\"Remarks at Leaders\u2019 Summit on Refugees - 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