UNHCR Täidesaatva komitee 68. sessioon
ESTONIA
Statement delivered byH.E. Mr. Andre PUNG
Ambassador, PermanentRepresentative
of theRepublic of Estonia
General Debate – Item 4
Genf, 3oktoober 2017
Thankyou Madam Chair,
Estoniafully aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Unionand its Member States and would like to add some additional remarks in itsnational capacity.
Allowme to thank the High Commissioner for his insightful opening statement madeyesterday and for the special segment on the Comprehensive Refugee ResponseFramework. We fully share the view of the High Commissioner that it is time to sustainand accelerate the shift in how we respond to forced displacement and that theCRRF offers a new and promising model for adequate response. In this regard, Iwish to reaffirm Estonia’s commitment to the New York Declaration and to the processleading to the Global Compact on Refugees, including the application of the ComprehensiveRefugee Response Framework. We recognisethe need for further global responsibility sharing, strengthened solidarity andinternational cooperation.
Ialso join the High Commissioner in expressing our concern as the world continuesto face the significant challenge of numerous simultaneous large-scale crises,with the unprecedented number of (more than 65 million persons) displacedworldwide. In this context, the pursuit for solutions is a collectiveresponsibility towards refugees and forcibly displaced persons. Political willand leadership are urgently needed to halt and reverse the regrettable trend ofincreasing numbers of displacement and ever-growing needs. A sustainablesolution to forced displacement must build on addressing its root causes.
Estoniahighly appreciates the UNHCR’s work around the globe and we cherish our long-standingcooperation with the UNHCR. In particular, we commend the UNHCR for fulfillingits mandated leading role in providing international protection to refugees andforcibly displaced persons and for UNHCR’s response to acute and protractedsituations of forced displacement in many complex humanitarian settings. We welcome the UNHCR’s support to States and otherrelevant actors in building their protection capacity.
MadamChair,
Weremain deeply concerned about the refugee situation in many parts of the world.Most recently, witnessing the flight of half a million refugees from Myanmar injust a month has again underlined the need for protection and unrestrictedhumanitarian access. On this note, allow me to also point out the humanitariansituation in Ukraine, to which Estonia draws particular attention. The serious situationin Ukraine should be kept in our sight as the number of the displaced personsand their suffering continues to be a cause for great concern. In this context,it is unacceptable that UN agencies have not been granted full access inEastern Ukraine. Furthermore, we are concerned about the serious funding gap ofUN agencies for their operations in Ukraine.
MadamChair,
Estoniawelcomes the UNHCR’s continued focus on building partnerships for a morecomprehensive and effective response as highlighted yesterday by the HighCommissioner. This includes also working with partners outside the humanitariansector, while remaining committed to the humanitarian principles. With thatreference, we welcome UNHCR’s efforts to reduce costs and measure theefficiency gain with technology and innovation, such as through the use ofbiometrics for refugee registration, and we are looking forward to furtherreports in this regard. The advantage of new technologies and innovativesolutions should be assessed and put in practice where possible in order todeal with refugee situations more effectively.
In the context of growing needs that result inwidening funding gap, we also expect UNHCR to continue prioritizing and reforming its way of operating,while developing greater transparency and accountability of funding allocations.We commend the UNHCR’s commitmentto implement the Grand Bargain and its Results-Based Management framework,which facilitates and strengthens operations management from the planning stagethrough to monitoring and reporting, and helps to achieve its Global StrategicObjectives.
Finally,Madam Chair, Estonia values highly the work of UNHCR’s dedicated staff, notablyin the field and appreciates UNHCR’s efforts to reform. We are looking forwardto receiving regular updates on firstly, UNHCR’s work and strategy on IDPs and secondly,on the progress regarding the ongoing Change Management process.
Thankyou!