Drs. Staci B. Martin and Ester Nergis Canefe served as representatives of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM) in the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN) delegation at the United Nations High-Level Officials Meetings (HLOM)—now the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Progress Review. This meeting serves as the primary mid-term mechanism for tracking the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). Held every four years between the quadrennial Global Refugee Forums, these meetings bring together senior officials, state representatives, INGOs, NGOs, academics, refugee-led organizations, refugees, and stateless persons to evaluate progress and address gaps in international protection.
The 2025 Progress Review (December 15–17 in Geneva) evaluated the impact of multi-stakeholder pledges made at the 2023 GRF. This review emphasizes meaningful participation, providing dedicated platforms for displaced and stateless people’s representatives to shape policy. These meetings bring together regional progress and high-level discussions, turning international support into real actions and helping move the world closer to the GCR’s long-term goals.
They also attended a linked event convened by the 15by30 Pledge for Higher Education and Skills for Self-Reliance leaders, focusing on refugee higher education and the development of skills for self-reliance. Since the 2023 GRF, the global average enrollment rate for refugee youth in higher education has risen from 6% to 9%, a significant increase from just 1% in 2019 (UNHCR, 2025). The goal is to have 15% enrollment by 2030.
They also attended a related events organized by Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT), the Global Refugee-led Network, Asylum Access, Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative, Asia Pacific Network of Refugees, and Refugees International. The R-Space, which offered a platform for perspectives and solutions frequently excluded from formal settings. This refugee-led, co-designed initiative featured a parallel program comprising 40 sessions. The event focused on priority issues affecting refugees and functioned as an alternative venue for engagement, enabling refugee-led initiatives to strengthen collaboration both internally and with allies and supporters in governments, international NGOs, the private sector, and international organizations.
On the last day, they participated in a roundtable with the Global Academic Interdisciplinary Network (GAIN), LERRN, and the Geneva Graduate Institute Global Migration Centre. The group shared experiences about academia’s role in the GRF PR, discussed lessons from implementing academic pledges, and explored ways to strengthen the impact of academic research on the global refugee system.
It is our recommendation to IASFM executive and the membership that we seek further involvement with some of these platforms, especially those related to labour rights and educational initiatives and consider making a pledge in 2026.
