International work

In May 2024, Paula Santacruz represented the NRAP at the Global Solutions Summit (GSS 2024) in Berlin, Germany. This prestigious event brought together experts and leaders from around the world to discuss pressing global issues. As an inaugural member of NZRAP, Paula shared the advisory mechanism model and contribute to the critical discussion on refugee policy and practice, offering tangible solutions to this urgent issue. Showcasing the model on a panel curated by R-SEAT and the Robert Bosch Stiftung Foundation (RBSF), alongside esteemed experts from Oxford University and RBSF, Paula demonstrated how their academic and professional expertise in law and refugee advocacy, enriched by personal experience, has enhanced NZRAP's contributions.

At GSS 2024, Paula emphasised the effectiveness of NZRAP's institutionalised approach in empowering refugees and informing policy objectives and practices. As the official Refugee Advisor to the New Zealand Government Delegation at the GRF, Paula’s expert advice significantly influenced New Zealand's engagement and practices at global gatherings on refugees. The summit highlighted the need to break the "refugee bubble" and recognise the interconnectedness of forced displacement with other global pressing issues, including climate, health, inequality, peace and security, and AI. The experience in Berlin was a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration, inclusivity, and empathy in addressing complex global issues, reinforcing Paula's commitment to advancing NZRAP's mission to inform refugee policies and practices both in New Zealand and globally.

In February 2024, members of the NZRAP attended the Working Group on Resettlement (WGR) in both Sydney and Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland in different capacities including Rabia Talal Almbaid and Julia Sheikh in their capacity as the (global) Refugee Advisory Group (RAG), Oo Meh, Ayan Said and Madiha Ali in their capacity as NZRAP members.

In Sydney, members participated in multiple panels as speakers on topics including meaningful refugee participation and leadership, mental health challenges, and addressing domestic and family violence in settlement. At the Auckland event, in partnership with MBIE, the NZRAP presented a session highlighting the panel mechanism alongside other recent initiatives to improve refugee participation at the national and local levels in Aotearoa.

Following on from the WGR, preparations for Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP), which is scheduled for June 2024 will commence shortly, with the NZRAP once again joining as a Refugee Advisory on the New Zealand Government delegation.

Note: The 'Working group on Resettlement (WGR) is part of the Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP). This working group is a collaboration between governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Its purpose is to discuss and improve the processes and policies related to resettling refugees, ensuring they can move from countries where they have fled to new countries where they can rebuild their lives. The group focuses on sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and finding ways to enhance resettlement programmes globally.

The Global Refugee Forum (GRF) 2023, held in Geneva from December 13-15, 2023, focused on the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), including the realisation of its main objectives to ease pressures on refugee-hosting states, to empower refugees and to find solutions. The GRF was co- convened by five states — Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan, and Uganda, —and co-hosted by Switzerland and the UNHCR.

Members of the NZRAP attended the GRF in different capacities, including one as the Refugee Advisor for the New Zealand Government: Paula Santacruz; Rabia Talal Almbaid and Julia Sheikh in their capacity as New Zealand Refugee Advisory Panel (NZRAP), Madiha Ali, Antoinette Umugwaneza, Mustafa Derbashi (resigned member) in their capacity as Refugee Experts sponsored by the UNHCR.

The NZRAP have collated their learnings and strategic reflections on their experiences engaging both the planning and attendance at the GRF. This includes presenting key recommendations to the government across a broad scope of settlement opportunities. Key areas of note include leveraging private sector engagement, funding for Refugee-Led Organisations and MRP initiatives, and, importantly, ensuring that the Government’s own pledges on MRP, education and employment made at the GRF are interconnected in their implementation.

Read the NZRAP GRF Strategic Reflections Document here.

This event was held from June 26 - 28 in Geneva, Switzerland and was attended by the NZRAP in different capacities. Julia Sheikh and Rabia Talal Albaid participated as members of the Refugee Advisory Group (RAG) – a global refugee advisory group. Ayan Said participated as the first - ever Refugee Advisor to join a New Zealand Government delegation. In addition, the NZRAP members were joined by two other refugee background representatives Rez Gardi (R-SEAT) and Aklilu Habteghiorghis (NZ Red Cross). As well as the formal programme, NZRAP participated in a range of side events and meetings as part of this global dialogue.

Note: The Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR) was a forum where governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) collaborated to discuss and improve refugee resettlement processes. It focused on sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and developing policies to enhance global resettlement efforts. The ATCR is now known as the Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP).

The NZRAP’s Canadian counterparts at the Refugee Advisory Network of Canada (RAN Canada) invited the NZRAP to participate in their inaugural webinar, “Meaningful Refugee Participation: Taking Stock and Charting the Way Forward.” This event took place on World Refugee Day Tuesday 20 June.

NZRAP member Rabia Talal Albaid joined the panel of speakers representing refugee-led organisations from the United States and Canada. A full recording and report on the panel discussions is available here.

In February 2023, Julia Sheikh attended the ATCR Working Group on Resettlement (WGR) in Cork, Ireland. This event was held from February 28 – March 2 and was hosted by this year's ATCR host, the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

The event included representatives from 32 states and was attended by Julia, a member of the global Refugee Advisory Group (RAG) and Sarah Ward from MBIE. Julia’s successful expression of interest and session proposal saw her present on the topic of access to mental health services in the session entitled ‘Mental Health Support and Integration’ alongside representatives from Australia and Ireland. In large part due to this session, mental health was also prioritised as an agenda item for the formal ATCR programme in June in Geneva. One of Julia’s key reflections on her WGR engagement was the question of how the NZRAP and others can ensure this global dialogue and work explored and shared at the WGR can have an actual impact on the ground in Aotearoa.

Note: The 'Working group on Resettlement (WGR) is part of the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR), which is now (as of 2024) known as the Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (CRCP). This working group is a collaboration between governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Its purpose is to discuss and improve the processes and policies related to resettling refugees, ensuring they can move from countries where they have fled to new countries where they can rebuild their lives. The group focuses on sharing best practices, addressing challenges, and finding ways to enhance resettlement programmes globally.