WCC, UN Refugee Agency sign historic agreement

WCC gen sec Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay, UNHCR Dr Barham Salih. Photo: Gregoire de Fombelle/WCC

Source: WCC

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have signed a historic memorandum of understanding that reaffirms their shared commitment to raising global, regional, and national awareness of forced displacement and statelessness.

The memorandum outlines the joint commitment to supporting "interfaith and ecumenical dialogue initiatives that promote belonging, dignity, and peaceful coexistence," as well as addressing the root causes of forced displacement.

The agreement also strengthens advocacy for nationality rights, legal identity, inclusion, and protection of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, and mobilizes "faith-based resources and constituencies in support of protection, inclusion, and durable solutions to support access to services, social cohesion, and local integration."

The memorandum encourages coordinated action between UN Refugee Agency operations and WCC constituencies and partners.

"At a time of increasing displacement, collaboration with faith-based actors is critical to advancing protection, fostering inclusion, and supporting durable solutions for refugees and stateless people as outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees," said United Nations high commissioner for refugees Dr Barham Salih. "We welcome the commitment of World Council of Churches to interfaith dialogue and to making a tangible and lasting difference in the lives those who are stateless and those who are forced to flee."

WCC general secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to strengthen the collaboration with the UN Refugee Agency. "With this historic agreement, we build upon and deepen a longstanding collaboration and commitment to upholding human dignity, promoting peace, and protecting the world's most vulnerable populations. It is a testimony to the good intentions of the WCC and the UNHCR working together in the common goal to exercise compassion, care, and action to champion the rights of forcibly displaced and stateless persons."

Pillay underscored the urgent need to revitalise efforts for stateless people, whose rights and access to protection have deteriorated amidst significant global funding constraints and growing conflict across the world.

"Through this agreement, we are more closely connecting humanitarian action with the moral authority, global reach, and advocacy power of faith communities," said Pillay. "We share a deep commitment to advancing a world where every person belongs - and no one is left without a nationality."

The WCC and the UN Refugee Agency have had a close collaboration, particularly with work on statelessness, for more than a decade.