World Refugee Day 2019

As Resident Coordinator for the United Nations in Montenegro I am honored to welcome you all to UN Eco House on behalf of all the agencies in the UN family.  We are pleased to stand with our sister agency United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the occasion – World Refugee Day.

Many famous people support the UNHCR cause – Angelina Jolie, Cate Blanchett Khaled Hossenini.   - We don’t have any of them here with us - but as World Refugee Day is dedicated to the beneficiaries of the Regional Housing Programme, we do have development partners of that programme with us this evening.  A warm welcome to you, the representatives from many of the countries that come together to finance ‘durable, long term housing solutions’ for the refugees of this region.

I am pleased to put their work in the context of Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals agreed by all member states to the United Nations in September 2015.  Solidarity with and compassion for all refugees, displaced and stateless persons is an essential principle in 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – ensuring that “no one must be left behind”.  In a world where climate change, poverty and conflict, sees more people on the move, surely, the vision of Agenda 2030, cannot be realized without considering the rights and needs of those most impacted by unfortunate global events.

Dear friends, let me close by thanking you all for staying committed to the fulfillment of these goals.