Mr. Sokhom Tauch, IRCO’s Executive Director, has been chosen to be a delegate for the UNHCR Refugee Congress to be held on August 3-4 in Washington D.C. As a delegate, he will represent all refugees in the state of Oregon.
As UNHCR marks the 60th anniversary of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, the Refugee Congress is bringing together 60 individuals who have resettled in the United States, and who represent the diversity of resettled refugee populations in 50 states. As a delegate, Mr. Sokhom’s insights, past and current experiences, and voice will add to the conversation as the Refugee Congress looks at ongoing and future challenges in refugee protection and refugee resettlement. Throughout the conference and workshops, delegates will examine how the tradition of helping refugees can be improved, and sustained to assist newly arrived refugees in the U.S., and, examine the protection and humanitarian needs of refugees. Their collective voices will be the voice of conscience that must be heard to ensure that protection and humanitarian needs of refugees are not forgotten. The proceedings, findings and recommendations of the Refugee Congress will be shared with U.S. Congressional representatives and, at the UNHCR Ministerial Meeting to be held in Geneva in December 2011, and, with the stakeholders in the U.S. refugee resettlement and protection arena.
This is the first time UNHCR has organized such an event.
Tags: Refugee Congress | Sokhom Tauch | UNHCR