[Music] we see images like this we hear stories
we see images like this we hear stories
we see images like this we hear stories about refugees in our news almost every
about refugees in our news almost every
about refugees in our news almost every day but there are some parts of the
day but there are some parts of the
day but there are some parts of the story that we don’t hear as often
story that we don’t hear as often
story that we don’t hear as often several years ago
several years ago
several years ago I met a young refugee very much like
I met a young refugee very much like
I met a young refugee very much like this young man shown here I’ll call him
this young man shown here I’ll call him
this young man shown here I’ll call him Jenna he was 21 I met him when he was 10
Jenna he was 21 I met him when he was 10
Jenna he was 21 I met him when he was 10 he fled the Civil War in his home
he fled the Civil War in his home
he fled the Civil War in his home country Liberia so he’d been a refugee
country Liberia so he’d been a refugee
country Liberia so he’d been a refugee for half his life we were in Egypt at
for half his life we were in Egypt at
for half his life we were in Egypt at the time and as a refugee in Egypt Jenna
the time and as a refugee in Egypt Jenna
the time and as a refugee in Egypt Jenna couldn’t go to school he couldn’t work
couldn’t go to school he couldn’t work
couldn’t go to school he couldn’t work he couldn’t take any steps to rebuild
he couldn’t take any steps to rebuild
he couldn’t take any steps to rebuild his life instead he was just stuck in
his life instead he was just stuck in
his life instead he was just stuck in limbo and yet he had three different
limbo and yet he had three different
limbo and yet he had three different volunteer jobs so I asked him one day
volunteer jobs so I asked him one day
volunteer jobs so I asked him one day why he was doing this why he was working
why he was doing this why he was working
why he was doing this why he was working so hard not even getting paid and I
so hard not even getting paid and I
so hard not even getting paid and I thought he was going to tell me other
thought he was going to tell me other
thought he was going to tell me other people helped me and I’m giving back but
people helped me and I’m giving back but
people helped me and I’m giving back but instead he looked me in the eye and he
instead he looked me in the eye and he
instead he looked me in the eye and he and he said someday I’m going to get out
and he said someday I’m going to get out
and he said someday I’m going to get out of here I’m going to be someplace where
of here I’m going to be someplace where
of here I’m going to be someplace where they let me work and I’m going to need a
they let me work and I’m going to need a
they let me work and I’m going to need a resume I’m building my resume
unfortunately general story is not at
unfortunately general story is not at all unique and that’s why I’d like to
all unique and that’s why I’d like to
all unique and that’s why I’d like to ask you all here today to walk away
ask you all here today to walk away
ask you all here today to walk away remembering three numbers the first is
remembering three numbers the first is
remembering three numbers the first is 21 million the next is less than 1% and
21 million the next is less than 1% and
21 million the next is less than 1% and the last is 26 years so what do these
the last is 26 years so what do these
the last is 26 years so what do these numbers mean there are 21 million
numbers mean there are 21 million
numbers mean there are 21 million refugees in the world today these are
refugees in the world today these are
refugees in the world today these are people who have fled war or targeted
people who have fled war or targeted
people who have fled war or targeted violence against them because of
violence against them because of
violence against them because of something about them their race their
something about them their race their
something about them their race their religion their sexual orientation their
religion their sexual orientation their
religion their sexual orientation their political opinion
less than 1% of these refugees reach and
less than 1% of these refugees reach and resettle in the US Canada Europe
resettle in the US Canada Europe
resettle in the US Canada Europe Australia and New Zealand combined each
Australia and New Zealand combined each
Australia and New Zealand combined each year that means the vast majority of
year that means the vast majority of
year that means the vast majority of refugees are in Africa Asia and the
refugees are in Africa Asia and the
refugees are in Africa Asia and the Middle East and Latin America about half
Middle East and Latin America about half
Middle East and Latin America about half of these refugees are in what’s called
of these refugees are in what’s called
of these refugees are in what’s called protracted refugee situations this is
protracted refugee situations this is
protracted refugee situations this is defined as a situation where at least
defined as a situation where at least
defined as a situation where at least 25,000 people have been displaced from a
25,000 people have been displaced from a
25,000 people have been displaced from a single country for a minimum of five
single country for a minimum of five
single country for a minimum of five years the average time in a Petrak today
years the average time in a Petrak today
years the average time in a Petrak today at which time that a protracted
at which time that a protracted
at which time that a protracted situation lasts today is 26 years think
situation lasts today is 26 years think
situation lasts today is 26 years think about that for a minute now about half
about that for a minute now about half
about that for a minute now about half of the world’s refugees are in camps
of the world’s refugees are in camps
of the world’s refugees are in camps these are essentially internment camps
these are essentially internment camps
these are essentially internment camps in almost every country where they exist
in almost every country where they exist
in almost every country where they exist refugees are not allowed to leave
refugees are not allowed to leave
refugees are not allowed to leave they’re confined behind barbed wire
they’re confined behind barbed wire
they’re confined behind barbed wire think about where this little girl will
think about where this little girl will
think about where this little girl will be in 26 years if she’s living behind
be in 26 years if she’s living behind
be in 26 years if she’s living behind that barbed wire the other half of
that barbed wire the other half of
that barbed wire the other half of refugees live predominantly in urban
refugees live predominantly in urban
refugees live predominantly in urban areas and like Jenna the refugee in
areas and like Jenna the refugee in
areas and like Jenna the refugee in Egypt they’re typically not allowed to
Egypt they’re typically not allowed to
Egypt they’re typically not allowed to work or ten school or open a bank
work or ten school or open a bank
work or ten school or open a bank account rent an apartment take the steps
account rent an apartment take the steps
account rent an apartment take the steps that you and I would consider
that you and I would consider
that you and I would consider fundamental to rebuilding our lives and
fundamental to rebuilding our lives and
fundamental to rebuilding our lives and the reasons for this are complex but our
the reasons for this are complex but our
the reasons for this are complex but our current solution for refugees doesn’t
current solution for refugees doesn’t
current solution for refugees doesn’t solve this problem almost all of our
solve this problem almost all of our
solve this problem almost all of our refugee assistance today particularly
refugee assistance today particularly
refugee assistance today particularly the refugee assistance going to Africa
the refugee assistance going to Africa
the refugee assistance going to Africa Asia and Latin America is humanitarian
Asia and Latin America is humanitarian
Asia and Latin America is humanitarian aid food and tents and blankets and this
aid food and tents and blankets and this
aid food and tents and blankets and this is absolutely critical on day one when a
is absolutely critical on day one when a
is absolutely critical on day one when a refugee first comes across a border from
refugee first comes across a border from
refugee first comes across a border from a warzone
a warzone
a warzone she needs someplace to sleep that night
she needs someplace to sleep that night
she needs someplace to sleep that night she needs food to eat that day but it
she needs food to eat that day but it
she needs food to eat that day but it shouldn’t be our answer 26 years later
so how do we move beyond aid to a more
so how do we move beyond aid to a more sustainable solution it starts by
sustainable solution it starts by
sustainable solution it starts by understanding that refugees are not just
understanding that refugees are not just
understanding that refugees are not just people with needs but also people with
people with needs but also people with
people with needs but also people with rights 147 countries have agreed to let
rights 147 countries have agreed to let
rights 147 countries have agreed to let refugees move freely and access
refugees move freely and access
refugees move freely and access education and take part in the labor
education and take part in the labor
education and take part in the labor market and when refugees can do this
market and when refugees can do this
market and when refugees can do this they can meet their own needs they can
they can meet their own needs they can
they can meet their own needs they can rebuild their own lives I work with
rebuild their own lives I work with
rebuild their own lives I work with refugees all over the world and all over
refugees all over the world and all over
refugees all over the world and all over the world refugees tell me that one set
the world refugees tell me that one set
the world refugees tell me that one set of rights in particular is fundamental
of rights in particular is fundamental
of rights in particular is fundamental refugees tell me if I could only work
refugees tell me if I could only work
refugees tell me if I could only work everything else would be better and in a
everything else would be better and in a
everything else would be better and in a certain way this is obvious right if you
certain way this is obvious right if you
certain way this is obvious right if you can work you have money you can provide
can work you have money you can provide
can work you have money you can provide for yourself but work beans that and
for yourself but work beans that and
for yourself but work beans that and much more work allows you to be a
much more work allows you to be a
much more work allows you to be a responsible parent to provide for your
responsible parent to provide for your
responsible parent to provide for your children work gives you purpose and a
children work gives you purpose and a
children work gives you purpose and a reason to get up in the morning work
reason to get up in the morning work
reason to get up in the morning work gives you the ability to make choices
gives you the ability to make choices
gives you the ability to make choices about your life if you’re dependent on
about your life if you’re dependent on
about your life if you’re dependent on aid and you’re given a bag of rice
aid and you’re given a bag of rice
aid and you’re given a bag of rice you’re eating rice for dinner if you
you’re eating rice for dinner if you
you’re eating rice for dinner if you work and earn a salary you get to decide
work and earn a salary you get to decide
work and earn a salary you get to decide what you’re having for dinner that night
what you’re having for dinner that night
what you’re having for dinner that night one refugee in Ecuador said to have work
one refugee in Ecuador said to have work
one refugee in Ecuador said to have work is to have life I was part of the first
is to have life I was part of the first
is to have life I was part of the first global study of barriers to refugee
global study of barriers to refugee
global study of barriers to refugee employment and entrepreneurship around
employment and entrepreneurship around
employment and entrepreneurship around the world we looked at a sample size of
the world we looked at a sample size of
the world we looked at a sample size of 15 countries home to 30% of the world’s
15 countries home to 30% of the world’s
15 countries home to 30% of the world’s refugee population so you’ll remember
refugee population so you’ll remember
refugee population so you’ll remember that I told you that the world’s refugee
that I told you that the world’s refugee
that I told you that the world’s refugee population is 21 million and that less
population is 21 million and that less
population is 21 million and that less than 1% resettle in countries like the
than 1% resettle in countries like the
than 1% resettle in countries like the u.s. so the vast majority of refugees
u.s. so the vast majority of refugees
u.s. so the vast majority of refugees remain in Africa Asia or Latin America
remain in Africa Asia or Latin America
remain in Africa Asia or Latin America and in our study
and in our study
and in our study we found that about half of the
we found that about half of the
we found that about half of the countries surveyed completely barred
countries surveyed completely barred
countries surveyed completely barred refugees from working there laws
refugees from working there laws
refugees from working there laws prohibited refugees from working
prohibited refugees from working
prohibited refugees from working providing for themselves contributing to
providing for themselves contributing to
providing for themselves contributing to the economy in most of the rest of the
the economy in most of the rest of the
the economy in most of the rest of the countries there wasn’t a legal
countries there wasn’t a legal
countries there wasn’t a legal prohibition to working but there were
prohibition to working but there were
prohibition to working but there were significant barriers that made it almost
significant barriers that made it almost
significant barriers that made it almost impossible for refugees to work so for
impossible for refugees to work so for
impossible for refugees to work so for example in Tanzania Tanzania doesn’t say
example in Tanzania Tanzania doesn’t say
example in Tanzania Tanzania doesn’t say that refugees can’t work but it does
that refugees can’t work but it does
that refugees can’t work but it does have a law saying refugees have to live
have a law saying refugees have to live
have a law saying refugees have to live in refugee camps in the remote western
in refugee camps in the remote western
in refugee camps in the remote western region of the country makes it pretty
region of the country makes it pretty
region of the country makes it pretty hard to find a job so what do we do
hard to find a job so what do we do
hard to find a job so what do we do about this how do we move from
about this how do we move from
about this how do we move from dependence on aid to a world where in
dependence on aid to a world where in
dependence on aid to a world where in any country refugees can rebuild their
any country refugees can rebuild their
any country refugees can rebuild their lives work contribute how do we get to
lives work contribute how do we get to
lives work contribute how do we get to that world how do we get to those
that world how do we get to those
that world how do we get to those countries our study suggested that there
countries our study suggested that there
countries our study suggested that there are two missing pieces of the puzzle
are two missing pieces of the puzzle
are two missing pieces of the puzzle that can complement our current
that can complement our current
that can complement our current solutions of humanitarian aid the first
solutions of humanitarian aid the first
solutions of humanitarian aid the first is to have the right laws right if we
is to have the right laws right if we
is to have the right laws right if we want refugees to be able to work feed
want refugees to be able to work feed
want refugees to be able to work feed their families rebuild their lives and
their families rebuild their lives and
their families rebuild their lives and contribute to their new communities we
contribute to their new communities we
contribute to their new communities we need laws that let them work and feed
need laws that let them work and feed
need laws that let them work and feed their families and rebuild their lives
their families and rebuild their lives
their families and rebuild their lives and contribute to their new communities
and contribute to their new communities
and contribute to their new communities we need those laws in place in any
we need those laws in place in any
we need those laws in place in any country where a refugee is and the
country where a refugee is and the
country where a refugee is and the second big pieces we need to recognize
second big pieces we need to recognize
second big pieces we need to recognize the economic contributions of refugees
the economic contributions of refugees
the economic contributions of refugees Oxford did a study in Uganda that showed
Oxford did a study in Uganda that showed
Oxford did a study in Uganda that showed that when Uganda let refugees work the
that when Uganda let refugees work the
that when Uganda let refugees work the refugees who started businesses and
refugees who started businesses and
refugees who started businesses and hired other people 40% of them hired
hired other people 40% of them hired
hired other people 40% of them hired Ugandan –zz even a few short years
Ugandan –zz even a few short years
Ugandan –zz even a few short years after this law was put in place here in
after this law was put in place here in
after this law was put in place here in our own country the u.s. another 40% 40%
our own country the u.s. another 40% 40%
our own country the u.s. another 40% 40% of our fortune 500 companies were
of our fortune 500 companies were
of our fortune 500 companies were started by refugees and immigrants or
started by refugees and immigrants or
started by refugees and immigrants or their kids
when we recognize that refugees
when we recognize that refugees contribute to an economy when we
contribute to an economy when we
contribute to an economy when we recognize that refugees aren’t just
recognize that refugees aren’t just
recognize that refugees aren’t just rebuilding their own lives but also
rebuilding their own lives but also
rebuilding their own lives but also improving all of ours we have the
improving all of ours we have the
improving all of ours we have the political will and the drive to put in
political will and the drive to put in
political will and the drive to put in place the laws that make this possible
place the laws that make this possible
place the laws that make this possible so what do we need to do to put these
so what do we need to do to put these
so what do we need to do to put these laws in place I’ll offer four
laws in place I’ll offer four
laws in place I’ll offer four suggestions the first is we need to fund
suggestions the first is we need to fund
suggestions the first is we need to fund advocacy right right now almost all of
advocacy right right now almost all of
advocacy right right now almost all of our dollars and time in refugee response
our dollars and time in refugee response
our dollars and time in refugee response goes to humanitarian aid we need to also
goes to humanitarian aid we need to also
goes to humanitarian aid we need to also invest in long-term solutions and that
invest in long-term solutions and that
invest in long-term solutions and that means investing in people who can change
means investing in people who can change
means investing in people who can change the laws right laws don’t just change by
the laws right laws don’t just change by
the laws right laws don’t just change by themselves they need people pushing to
themselves they need people pushing to
themselves they need people pushing to change those laws so we need to invest
change those laws so we need to invest
change those laws so we need to invest in advocacy second we need to invest in
in advocacy second we need to invest in
in advocacy second we need to invest in locals I work with advocates in several
locals I work with advocates in several
locals I work with advocates in several countries who’ve been successful at
countries who’ve been successful at
countries who’ve been successful at getting their countries to commit to put
getting their countries to commit to put
getting their countries to commit to put in place the laws that let refugees work
in place the laws that let refugees work
in place the laws that let refugees work that make it easier for refugees to
that make it easier for refugees to
that make it easier for refugees to access employment rebuild their lives
access employment rebuild their lives
access employment rebuild their lives and contribute to their new countries
and contribute to their new countries
and contribute to their new countries and what all these advocates have in
and what all these advocates have in
and what all these advocates have in common is that they’re locals of the
common is that they’re locals of the
common is that they’re locals of the country in which they’re advocating
country in which they’re advocating
country in which they’re advocating right they’ve got skin in the game
right they’ve got skin in the game
right they’ve got skin in the game they’ve got credibility they know how
they’ve got credibility they know how
they’ve got credibility they know how the system works they’re able to say
the system works they’re able to say
the system works they’re able to say this is my country and this is what I
this is my country and this is what I
this is my country and this is what I want to see here today very little
want to see here today very little
want to see here today very little refugee response funding goes to locally
refugee response funding goes to locally
refugee response funding goes to locally led organizations but we can change that
led organizations but we can change that
led organizations but we can change that the third thing we need to do is to
the third thing we need to do is to
the third thing we need to do is to support these local advocates by
support these local advocates by
support these local advocates by ensuring that we’re playing our part
ensuring that we’re playing our part
ensuring that we’re playing our part outside of the country powerful actors
outside of the country powerful actors
outside of the country powerful actors from the outside can create incentives
from the outside can create incentives
from the outside can create incentives for countries that do a good job with
for countries that do a good job with
for countries that do a good job with this that let refugees work one example
this that let refugees work one example
this that let refugees work one example is the World Bank they’ve already made
is the World Bank they’ve already made
is the World Bank they’ve already made some of their loans contingent on a
some of their loans contingent on a
some of their loans contingent on a country letting refugees work that’s a
country letting refugees work that’s a
country letting refugees work that’s a great start and
great start and
great start and need to do more of that and finally we
need to do more of that and finally we
need to do more of that and finally we need to facilitate labor migration both
need to facilitate labor migration both
need to facilitate labor migration both within countries where refugees live so
within countries where refugees live so
within countries where refugees live so that a refugee can move where the jobs
that a refugee can move where the jobs
that a refugee can move where the jobs are can fill gaps in the job market and
are can fill gaps in the job market and
are can fill gaps in the job market and also across borders so that if brazil
also across borders so that if brazil
also across borders so that if brazil needs doctors and a doctor from
needs doctors and a doctor from
needs doctors and a doctor from Democratic Republic of Congo as a
Democratic Republic of Congo as a
Democratic Republic of Congo as a refugee in Tanzania she can make that
refugee in Tanzania she can make that
refugee in Tanzania she can make that transition to go where the jobs are to
transition to go where the jobs are to
transition to go where the jobs are to meet the needs to contribute to another
meet the needs to contribute to another
meet the needs to contribute to another country and to contribute to our world
country and to contribute to our world
country and to contribute to our world if we do that refugees like jeno with
if we do that refugees like jeno with
if we do that refugees like jeno with that drive and determination to work
that drive and determination to work
that drive and determination to work three different volunteer jobs just to
three different volunteer jobs just to
three different volunteer jobs just to be ready for his chance refugees like
be ready for his chance refugees like
be ready for his chance refugees like him will no longer be waiting for their
him will no longer be waiting for their
him will no longer be waiting for their opportunity they’ll be seizing it and
opportunity they’ll be seizing it and
opportunity they’ll be seizing it and when they do so all of us will benefit
when they do so all of us will benefit
when they do so all of us will benefit [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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