Second Secretary reinforces Monaco’s commitment to refugees

The Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations, Mr Benjamin Valli, this week took part in a debate on issues relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and on humanitarian issues at the Third Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations, dealing with social, humanitarian and cultural issues.

He recalled the tradition of hosting by the Principality and the commitment, on the ground, of the Princely Government for refugees and vulnerable people. Faced with the alarming figure of 65 million people forced to leave their homes, he said that it was crucial for the international community to find dignified and humane ways to ensure that they did not have to risk their lives, and those of their families by resorting to traffickers who exploit them.

He called for the establishment of an effective system of responsibility-sharing for refugees, thus ensuring a collective, organised and anticipated response to crises in human displacement.

He concluded by underscoring the importance of meeting the educational needs of refugee children, recalling that, in addition to being a fundamental right, this was an essential condition for their integration into their host country.

Monaco welcomed its third refugee family to the Principality last weekend.