Madame Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This statement (available at: www.icvanetwork.org) has been drafted in consultation with, and is delivered on behalf of, a wide range of NGOs and aims to reflect the diversity of views within the NGO community.
Over the past months, many situations around the world have arisen involving serious protection issues for refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless persons, and others of concern to UNHCR. NGOs take the opportunity of the 57th Standing Committee meeting to highlight some of the most serious situations in which UNHCR and Member States should take urgent action to protect the rights of all these persons. We raise these concerns in the spirit of cooperation that brings us all together to serve the populations of concern to UNHCR.