What Next?
This is a beginning of some ideas formulated at the conference. Please check back for updates.
For the new US administration:
-Support increase in number of refugees resettled/admitted from all regions with existing quotas.
-Ask
to review current refugee policies and laws which re not efficient or
helpful and revise these policies. Create a task force to address the
needs vs. polices and changes.
-Lobby
the new administration to support S.3509-a bill to help vulnerable and
displaced Iraqis and to create a strategy to deal with refugee crisis
in Middle East stemming from displacement of vulnerable Iraqis.
-Ask for concrete strategy to help Iraqi refugees.
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For host countries ministries of foreign affair:
-Ministry of foreign affairs to invite foreign military medical teams to provide periodic short-term medical aid to refugee camps or host countries
-Support educational opportunities for adults in camp.
-Reach out to them with letters to inform them.
-Mobilize the org. we are registered with to write the plug in the benefits of the durable solutions MDFs wants to hear how they will benefit from the right to work approach.
-Tell your delegations to ExCom in Geneva to support a right-based conclusion on self-reliances with equitable international responsibilities haring. Show them the NGO draft,
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For US Congress:
-Tell your local congressman wants to help you in exchange for your future vote. He/she will be more accessible than you imagine.
-Work with interested members of congress to have the category of respect for refugee rights in the state department's annual human rights report.
-Work with interested members of congress to have the category of respect for refugee rights in the state department's annual human rights report.
-Organize
refugee-interested NGOs in your community to sponsor visits to Washington to meet with congressional staff to enhance focus on
warehousing. Such visits work best when refugees themselves are present
to give personal testimony. Also essential that such visits have a
specific "ask" that you want the congressional office to support.
-Develop relationships with local media outlets to cover refugee issues in your community. Your member of congress reads the local press to understand what the constituency cares about. This conference, for example, should have invited local press to cover the event and report about it. Events attract press.
-Bring the warehousing issue to the potential local partner groups...world affairs council, local CFR chapter, include local civic action groups like rotary, lions, etc.
-Develop relationships with local media outlets to cover refugee issues in your community. Your member of congress reads the local press to understand what the constituency cares about. This conference, for example, should have invited local press to cover the event and report about it. Events attract press.
-Bring the warehousing issue to the potential local partner groups...world affairs council, local CFR chapter, include local civic action groups like rotary, lions, etc.
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To target the UNHCR Executive Committee:
-Write to individual country delegations (with cc to UNHCR itself) asking them to pass a rights-based conclusion on self-reliance with equitable international responsibility sharing. Show them the NGO draft at www.refugees.org/conclusion
-Share views to country activists in support of refugee right based approach to the Executive Committee embers of the country in helping to spread the message
-Grassroots letters from U.S. senators and congressmen to encourage durable solutions. Reach out with letters to 1) raise awareness of concern, 2) offer suggestions on how to address the issues/problem.
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For Civic Groups, E.g. Unions, Rotary:
Put together business-labor-faith coalitions for refugee rights in host countries. Get them to advance rights as their interests in economic growth, avoiding exploitation, and spiritual/moral principle of nation.
Rotary clubs: Stress to them, as opposed to sending goods or just raising money, to advocate for more permanent solutions by ending refugee warehousing.
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Everyone should use the Media:
-Write to individual country delegations (with cc to UNHCR itself) asking them to pass a rights-based conclusion on self-reliance with equitable international responsibility sharing. Show them the NGO draft at www.refugees.org/conclusion
-Share views to country activists in support of refugee right based approach to the Executive Committee embers of the country in helping to spread the message
-Grassroots letters from U.S. senators and congressmen to encourage durable solutions. Reach out with letters to 1) raise awareness of concern, 2) offer suggestions on how to address the issues/problem.
---------------------------------------------------------
For Civic Groups, E.g. Unions, Rotary:
Put together business-labor-faith coalitions for refugee rights in host countries. Get them to advance rights as their interests in economic growth, avoiding exploitation, and spiritual/moral principle of nation.
Rotary clubs: Stress to them, as opposed to sending goods or just raising money, to advocate for more permanent solutions by ending refugee warehousing.
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Everyone should use the Media:
-Write a letter to the editor
-Compose an op-ed
-Meet with their editorial board and ask them to write an editorial (offer to help them write it!)
-Make copies of whatever they print or broadcast and share w/ policy makers **MOST IMPORTANT!
-Compose an op-ed
-Meet with their editorial board and ask them to write an editorial (offer to help them write it!)
-Make copies of whatever they print or broadcast and share w/ policy makers **MOST IMPORTANT!
