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News of theme "Public Aid for Development and International Cooperation"
11 January 2019 Press release

Meeting between the Prince's Government and the New Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

From left to right, in front of Mr Paolo Artini, new representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) : Ms. Emilie Larese Silvestre, Programme Coordinator of Monaco's Official Development Assistance ; Ms. Marie-Noëlle Albertini, Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation ; Ms. Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Ms. Bénédicte Schutz, Director of International Cooperation ©Direction de la Communication/Michael Alesi

On Friday 11 January, Ms. Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, accompanied by a delegation*, received Paolo Artini, the new representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for France and Monaco.

This meeting took place following the adoption on 17 December 2018 by the United Nations General Assembly of the Global Compact on Refugees, under the impetus of the UNHCR, which led the consultation and negotiation process.  The Pact represents a renewal of the international community's response to the challenges posed by large-scale forced displacement, and supports host countries and refugees.

Thus, in view of the ever-increasing needs of the UNHCR, whose target population has doubled since 2010 to almost 80 million vulnerable people who are refugees, displaced or stateless, the Prince's Government has decided to increase its operational support to the UNHCR in 2019.  This will make it possible to help 4,700 adult refugees in Morocco and Tunisia find employment and promote the education of more than 4,300 refugee children in Lebanon and Mauritania.

In particular, this working meeting was an opportunity to recall the 30th anniversary of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which will be celebrated this year.  Monaco, which has been a signatory to this Convention since 1993, has made the right to education for vulnerable children a priority, including children who are refugees, displaced or stateless.

This meeting highlights the importance Monaco places on respecting the right of asylum and the values of humanity and solidarity it promotes, as well as the commitment of the Monegasque authorities to supporting the actions of the UNHCR to assist refugees who are fleeing from crises and conflicts.

As a reminder, the UNHCR is one of the three privileged UN partners of Monaco's Official Development Assistance, with the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization.

Paolo Artini has been working for the UNHCR since 1993.  He has held posts in many countries, including Kuwait, Mauritania, Ethiopia, the Balkans and Italy.  Before his appointment in France in late 2018, he served as Deputy Representative for the UNHCR in Turkey and in the Regional Representation for Western Europe.

*Ms. Bénédicte Schutz, Director of International Cooperation, Ms. Marie-Noëlle Albertini, Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Ms. Emilie Larese Silvestre, Programme Coordinator of Monaco's Official Development Assistance.

 

 

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https://en.gouv.mc/Policy-Practice/Monaco-Worldwide/Public-Aid-for-Development-and-International-Cooperation/News/Meeting-between-the-Prince-s-Government-and-the-New-Representative-of-the-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees