2nd International Forum on Complementary Pathways for Admission of Refugees to Third Countries

10 – 27 July 2023

Live sessions of the Forum will be held from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm, Rome time (CEST). A useful time zone Converter can be found on this link

The Forum will be delivered in English.

Description

The International Forum on Complementary Pathways for Admission to Third Countries convenes professionals from all over the world to raise awareness and advocate for establishment and expansion of alternative channels through which refugees can find safety and durable solutions in countries beyond their country of asylum. These complementary routes directly contribute to equal responsibility-sharing and help meet three of the Global Compact on Refugees’ (GCR) objectives.

The first edition of this Forum took place in 2022 and convened more than 190 professionals from over 65 countries, including refugees who have themselves utilized these pathways, facilitating the sharing of best practices on third country pathways for refugees through higher education and labor mobility channels.
The second edition of the Forum will expand further and cover additional types of complementary pathways, such as humanitarian visas, family reunification and community sponsorship.

The Forum gives participants the opportunity to learn about the international institutional framework and the stakeholders involved in all forms of complementary pathways for admission. It also aims to foster exchange of best practices from different countries and regions in the world while being mindful of different challenges that might be faced, in order to ultimately facilitate the further expansion of complementary pathways.

This Forum is part of the pledges made by the Department at the Global Refugee Forum in 2019 to develop programs focused on key areas in need of support of the GCR, building the capacities of governments, academic institutions, civil society and international organizations who could positively influence the protection of refugees, and facilitating the sharing of best practices and experiences among participants of an international background.

Objectives

  • Promoting the law, principles and policies related to the international protection of refugees;
  • Raising awareness on the need for third country solutions for refugees by way of complementary pathways;
  • Providing participants with key information on responsibility sharing, the Global Compact on Refugees and complementary pathways;
  • Fostering a coordinated and collaborative approach to expand complementary pathways;
  • Identifying stakeholders to support the creation of complementary pathways and advocate for their expansion;
  • Facilitate sharing of best practices on expanding complementary pathways across different countries and stakeholders.

Application deadline and Official Certificate

Candidates are invited to register to the Course by 23 June 2023.

An official Certificate for Ambassadorship for Complementary Pathways will be awarded to attendees for their efforts in advocating for the expansion of complementary pathways for admission to third countries.

Target audience

The Department will invite an international audience from stakeholders relevant to the establishment and expansion of complementary pathways, including:

  • Government officials and other civil servants with competencies in education, labour and immigration policies;
  • Professors and administrative staff of academic institutions interested in fostering inclusion of refugee students;
  • Members of the private sector, civil society and other interested stakeholders including student associations and refugee-led organizations;
  • Staff of international organizations with mandates relating to the promotion of complementary pathways, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;
  • Other individuals with interest in promoting and developing complementary pathways and expertise in immigration law and other related aspects.

Structure and Methodology

The International Forum is structured into three weekly modules, delivered in a synchronous modality (live virtual sessions), providing an overview of complementary pathways for admission to third countries. Live sessions are pre-scheduled and last 120 minutes, delivered via Zoom for Education.

The core sessions of the agenda follow an explanatory approach providing an overview into the nature of complementary pathways and the different types that are in use today. The agenda also includes side events that dive into specific aspects of the core sessions, through direct interviews with refugees who benefited from complementary pathways and practitioners that developed them.

The Forum is delivered through a series of thematic panel discussions moderated by the Sanremo Team and aims at showcasing best practices and experiences regarding the main topics and issues of the Forum. While participants are invited to follow all panel discussions, they can also choose to attend only those relating to either complementary education pathways or labour mobility pathways. The opening and closing sessions are mandatory for all participants who will be selected to attend.

Introductory reference materials on the international institutional and legal framework for the protection of refugees will be made available in the Institute’s Online Learning Platform.

Administrative Information

Participation quota amounts to € 750. It must be remitted before the start of the Course by bank transfer. Visa and/or Mastercard are also accepted on the website of the Institute.

Your registration fee helps others participate.

For every paid registration fee, the Institute commits to provide a scholarship for participation to another individual, allowing more persons with a lived background of displacement, as well as members of grassroot and refugee-led organizations, particularly from the Global South, to attend the Forum.

Queries on the Course registration and administrative questions should be directed to: admission.unit@iihl.org.

Technical Information

The Online Courses of the Institute are hosted on the IIHL Learning Platform