The Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Progress Review 2025 concluded in December with renewed calls for stronger international cooperation and responsibility-sharing to address the growing challenges faced by refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless people worldwide.
According to Barham Salih, the international community now has stronger tools at its disposal through the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Refugee Forum process. He emphasized the need to apply these tools with greater strategic clarity in an increasingly volatile global environment.
The review brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, and refugees themselves. Participants highlighted a noticeable shift toward more inclusive and collaborative engagement, with increased representation of refugee communities and youth networks.
An outcome document released following the event provides a comprehensive assessment of progress made since previous commitments and outlines concrete actions and recommendations to guide preparations for the next Global Refugee Forum in 2027.
The event also comes at a significant moment for UNHCR, as Barham Salih begins his mandate as High Commissioner. His leadership is expected to shape the agency’s strategic direction during a period of mounting displacement and geopolitical uncertainty.
Looking ahead, key milestones include the High Commissioner’s Protection Dialogue scheduled for December 2026, which will focus on addressing gaps in refugee protection and adapting international frameworks to contemporary challenges.
The year 2026 will also mark major anniversaries in the global refugee protection regime, including 75 years since the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention and 65 years since the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
With an estimated 1.5 percent of the global population currently living in displacement, stakeholders emphasized the urgency of translating commitments into practical, scalable solutions that improve lives and promote long-term stability.