Monday, 12.10.2015 – Tuesday, 13.10.2015
Conference Assembly
The Swiss-Norwegian Nansen Initiative aims to improve protection for people who flee their country because of a natural disaster. The Global Consultation taking place in Geneva from 12 to 13 October 2015 marks both the high point and the conclusion of the Nansen Initiative in its current form.
Location: Geneva
People forced by natural disasters to seek refuge in a state other than their own are not recognised as refugees under the Geneva Convention of 1951 Relating to the Status of Refugees. In October 2012, Switzerland and Norway launched their joint Nansen Initiative, to improve protection for these individuals by means of a Protection Agenda.
The objective of the Global Consultation is to validate the Protection Agenda and to determine the way forward in dealing with cross-border displacement owing to natural disasters.
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will open the Global Consultation in Geneva on 12 October 2015. In addition to Norwegian State Secretary Tone Skogen, as Co-Chair, the Global Consultation will be attended by ministers and senior representatives of around 85 countries.
Conference languages: English and French
Official Nansen Initiative website
FDFA Nansen Initiative website
Forced Migration Review on disasters and displacement in a changing climate
Better protection for persons displaced by natural disasters Media release. 2 October 2012
Nansen Initiative leaflet (PDF, 2 Pages, 766.3 kB, English)
