In the framework of the 75th session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi, has delivered the national statement during the General Debate, emphasising that international cooperation is key to finding solutions to the issue of forced displacement, as highlighted in the 1951 Geneva Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees. Reiterating Italy’s frontline commitment to the reception and the protection of asylum seekers and refugees’ rights, Ambassador Grassi highlighted that “Italy expresses its unwavering support for the UNHCR, which, thanks to its “panoramic” approach, provides protection and assistance to forcibly displaced persons around the world.”
The Permanent Representative of Italy then recalled the 70th anniversary of Italy’s ratification of the Geneva Convention on Refugee Status, which also marked the beginning of the partnership with UNHCR. “President Mattarella’s visit to UNHCR’s Geneva headquarters, the participation of the High Commissioner Filippo Grandi in numerous G7 ministerial meetings as well as in other Italian initiatives such as the “Rome Process” and the implementation of the “Mattei Plan” for Africa, confirm Italy’s commitment to work alongside UNHCR for the protection of asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons, in a spirit of solidarity and burden and responsibility sharing.”
Amb. Grassi then emphasized that in 2024, Italy has so far responded with more than 42 million dollars to UNHCR’s humanitarian activities, and praised the solidarity of the Italian population, which has raised approximately 14 million USD. Italy also welcomed the Agency’s new approach to sustainable refugee aid, promoting the inclusion, self-reliance and resilience of displaced persons and host communities.
The Italian Permanent Representative also drew attention to the alarming number of ongoing emergencies and protracted crises, such as in Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, Myanmar, Syria and Afghanistan. “The human cost of war also continues to rise in Lebanon, Gaza and the Middle East region as a whole, causing immense suffering and forced displacement for millions of people”. In this context, humanitarian workers on the ground, including staff of UNHCR and its partners, were commended, and all parties to the conflict were urged to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law, constantly violated with impunity.
Finally, the Permanent Representative appreciated the coordination between UNHCR and IOM, which adopted a rights-based and route-based approach, and made clear that Italy’s national migration and asylum policies will continue to implement this approach, in line with the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
On the margins of the Executive Committee plenary, Amb. Grassi intervened at a side event promoted by the Sanremo Institute, the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta, where highlighted “the Italian initiatives on the fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking, both in the framework of the Processo di Roma and following the G7 Summit in Borgo Egnazia, with the launch of the G7 Coalition to Prevent Migrant Smuggling and the attached Action Plan, which promote renewed cooperation on the investigative capacities of the competent authorities in the countries of origin, transit and destination”. The Italian intervention was particularly appreciated, among others, by the UNHCR’s Special Envoy for the Central and Western Mediterranean, Vincent Cochetel, who mentioned Italy as one of the few countries committed to a concrete fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking through a greater involvement in offering complementary paths to migration.
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The 75th session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is being held in Geneva until 18th of October. With more than 140 national delegations and a large number of observers, including NGOs and civil society organisations, the Executive Committee represents the annual meeting of UNHCR member states where the crucial work of the agency in crisis and conflict zones is discussed and where national policies related to the implementation of migration and refugee policies, which fall under UNHCR’s mandate, are highlighted.
Read the full speech here.
