CFSI participated in the Annual Consultations with NGOs convened by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland in early July 2012. Director for Philippine Programme Vladimir Arcilla Hernandez represented CFSI in the consultations, which brings together 400 individuals from over 200 NGO partners of UNHCR across the globe. In his opening message, UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, stressed that the annual consultations “serve as a unique platform to exchange opinions on global and regional topics of concern, including on refugee and IDP protection, statelessness, and solutions to displacement. They also provide an opportunity to review and strengthen the way we work together in partnership.”
In addition to representing CFSI in the consultations as a delegate, Mr. Hernandez served as the moderator of a thematic session on “Redefining Protection for Children in Emergencies”. The thematic session focused on new strategic directions, overall goals, underlying principles, and systems approaches for the protection of children. These discussions take forward global commitments enshrined in the UNHCR Child Protection Framework, with special attention to strengthening the partnerships between NGOs and UNHCR.
“Participating in these high-level conferences is important to advance CFSI’s mission to protect and promote human security,” Mr. Hernandez explained. “Working with UNHCR and other NGOs, we bring the concerns of refugees, stateless persons, and the internally displaced to the fore, draw the attention of policymakers, and help foster collective action. In this regard, CFSI’s long-standing partnership with UNHCR enables our advocacy efforts and enhances our direct service in the field.”
At present, CFSI works with UNHCR in the Philippines to serve urban refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and IDPs uprooted by armed conflict and disasters. Also, CFSI carries out operations with UNHCR in Northern Rakhine State, Myanmar to address the needs of the stateless Muslim population.
Since 1982, CFSI and UNHCR have been partners in protecting refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). CFSI carried out projects with UNHCR, in various points in time, in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Cambodia.