Lithuania Made a Statement at the UNHCR Executive Committee Session
On 4 October the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lithuania to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva Ambassador Andrius Krivas made a statement at the 86th session of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee. This year Lithuania has become a member of the Executive Committee.
Ambassador expressed Lithuania’s support to the High Commissioner in addressing forced displacement crises caused by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other factors, and to its leadership in developing a Global Compact for Refugees, which aims at improving access to services, create employment opportunities and improve protection for both the displaced and their hosts, with special focus on the most vulnerable persons. Ambassador stressed that Lithuania, together with the European Union, would further support joint international efforts to solve the crises of forced displacement.
A. Krivas also urged not to forget the situation of internally displaced persons, especially the situation in Ukraine, where due to a neighbour country’s aggression currently more than 1.7 million persons are internally displaced. Ambassador expressed support for UNHCR activities in providing legal protection and other assistance for displaced persons.
UNHCR Executive Committee meets in Geneva annually in October to review and approve the agency’s programmes and budget, to approve proposed biennial budget targets, and in cooperation with the UNHCR’s intergovernmental and non-governmental partners to discuss the High Commissioner's exercise of functions and to discuss such important asylum and protection issues as regional activities, emergency preparedness, and international protection. Executive Committe is now comprised of 101 Member States.
