EVENT: USCIRF Conversation on the Global Compact on Refugees

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

USCIRF Conversation: Conversation on the Global Compact on Refugees

Wednesday, February 2, 2022
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Virtual Event

Register Here

Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for a virtual event about the United Nations Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and its implications for refugees fleeing religious persecution.

The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that as of the mid-2021, there were an unprecedented 26.6 million refugees worldwide. Two-thirds of these refugees are from five countries, which include three countries with ongoing persecution of various religious communities: Syria, Burma, and Afghanistan. Given the immense scale of the global refugee crisis, the GCR, endorsed by the General Assembly in 2018, is designed to promote responsibility-sharing among host countries and communities to better support refugees. The Biden Administration recently made several pledges to support the GCR.

This event will consider the impact of the GCR in ameliorating the plight of refugees fleeing religious persecution. USCIRF held a hearing in February 2021 that explored ways that the U.S. government can better protect and support individuals targeted based on their religion or belief abroad. Building on the findings from this hearing, the event will also explore further opportunities for the U.S. government and international community to aid refugees fleeing religious persecution.

USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza and Commissioner Anurima Bhargava will be joined by guest panelists Rabbi Rick Jacobs, member of the joint UNHCR-Religions for Peace Multi-Religious Council of Leaders, and Patrick Wall, co-author of The Global Compact on Refugees Three Years On. USCIRF Director of Outreach and Policy Dwight Bashir will moderate the conversation followed by questions and answers from attendees.

Panelists

• Nadine Maenza, Chair, USCIRF
• Anurima Bhargava, Commissioner, USCIRF
• Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President, Union for Reform Judaism and Honorary President, Religions for Peace
• Patrick Wall, Independent Consultant

Moderator

• Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRF

This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..