High Commissioner Filippo Grandi and I have just taken part in an important meeting on sharing responsibility for Syrian refugees through pathways for admission.

We are all aware that there is no substitute for a comprehensive and credible political settlement in Syria, and we welcome signs of progress towards that end. My Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, has been doing everything possible to advance the negotiations. To achieve early results, he requires the full and unified support of the international community.

We must send a clear message to all the parties that there is no military solution to the conflict, and that there is no alternative to negotiating a political transition that will lead to a new Syria.

And in the meantime, we must do everything possible to give hope to the millions of Syrian women, men and children who have been forced from their homes and their communities.

I have just arrived from visiting Jordan and Lebanon with the President of the World Bank Group, Dr. Jim Yong Kim. These two countries together are hosting well over 1.5 million refugees. I was also in Iraq, which hosts another quarter million refugees.

I was also in Tunisia; even though they [refugees there] are not Syrians, they [Tunisians] are also hosting almost a half million Libyan refugees. So everywhere I went, there were refugees.

My meetings with Syrian refugee families were very moving.

After five years of conflict, I was humbled and inspired to see that Syrian children are still singing songs, playing games and looking forward to better times, like any other children around the world. I saw the hope in their eyes as they talked about their dreams for the future.

We cannot let them down.

We are facing the biggest refugee and displacement crisis of our time. The world must rise to the challenge.

Providing hope means providing pathways to a better future. Neighbouring countries have done far more than their share. Others must now step up.

When the process is properly managed, resettling refugees is a win for everyone.

Vulnerable children, women and men find safety and support.

For host countries, refugees can bring valuable new skills. They are keen young students and workers, who are eager to learn and to contribute to their new communities and societies.

Some of the world’s most successful economies were built on the famous refugee work ethic. Others have realised that welcoming refugees provides the best way to safeguard economic success as their populations grow older.

Attempts to demonize people fleeing conflict and persecution are not only demeaning, offensive and counterproductive. They are factually wrong.

And measures to control the entry of refugees must safeguard the human rights and dignity of each individual person.

This is not a choice; it is an obligation under the Geneva Conventions and key international human rights treaties.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Success at this high-level meeting today will drive momentum in the months ahead.

I will convene the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul on 23 and 24 May. The Summit will be an opportunity for countries to show leadership in addressing the unprecedented levels of need in our world, including sustainable solutions for refugees.

Then in the summer, on 19 September, the United Nations General Assembly will hold a Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, just one day before the opening of the annual General Debate.

Our meeting today can set the tone for the year.

I call on all countries to demonstrate a true spirit of global citizenship and solidarity, and provide hope to Syrians in need.