Global Trends in Forced Uprooting: What is the Role of U.S. Leadership in Refugee Protection?

Date:

Tue, 07/28/2015 - 4:00 PM

Location:

402 Cannon House Office Building

Announcement

2015 marks the year with the highest number of uprooted persons since World War II. With the ongoing conflict in Syria, over 1.5 million internally displaced in South Sudan, and the expanding migration crisis in Europe, it is more important than ever to understand the challenges countries are facing and the needs of uprooted populations, especially refugees. Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a briefing that will focus on international trends in forced uprooting, while also highlighting best practices for refugee protection and a robust international response.

The United States in particular has had a strong tradition of providing humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons and refugees, resettling the greatest number of refugees in the world. This briefing will explore the international community’s obligations to those who are uprooted, focusing on the Syrian crisis as a situation where U.S. leadership can play a key role in promoting refugee protection.

The briefing is open to Members, staff and the public. If you have any questions please contact Carson Middleton (for Rep. Pitts) at 202-225-2411 or Carson.Middleton@mail.house.gov or Eric Salgado (for Rep. McGovern) at 202-226-6379 or Eric.Salgado@mail.house.gov.

Hosted by:

Joseph R. Pitts
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC

Witnesses

Panelists

Jana Mason, Senior Advisor for Government Relations and External Affairs, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Jenny Yang, Vice President of Advocacy and Policy, World Relief
Elizabeth Ferris, Co-Director, Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement, Brookings Institution
Elizabeth Cassidy, Deputy Director for Policy and Research, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Mostafa Hassoun, Resettled Refugee from Syria

Moderator

Melanie Nezer, Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, HIAS, Refugee Council USA

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.