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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

2023 International Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants and their Host Countries and Communities

Banner with 2 people and conference title and dates.

 

The Venezuelan displacement crisis is one of the largest in the world. As of December 2022, it has been estimated that more than 7.1 million Venezuelans have fled their country.

The increasing cost of living, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of documentation and regular status, and high unemployment rates have increased the vulnerability of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, making it difficult for many to rebuild their lives and integrate into host communities.

The 2023 International Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants and their Host Countries and Communities aimed to maintain the visibility of this crisis, and to continue to support host countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region that are undertaking significant efforts to welcome and integrate Venezuelan refugees and migrants.

The event was co-organised by the European Union and Canada, in close collaboration with the UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V).

The Conference features the participation of a broad range of actors, including host governments, international organizations, UN agencies, donors, the private sector, and civil society, including refugees and migrants.

Date and objectives

The 2023 Conference took place on 16 and 17 March 2023 in Brussels, in a hybrid format.

The event focused on the importance of coordinated action across the humanitarian-development-stabilisation nexus. It aimed to achieve the following objectives:

1. Highlight important progress made to date: participants will share activities and results achieved to date in response to the crisis.

2. Show solidarity with host countries and communities, including through the mobilisation of additional resources: enable the expression of support for host countries and communities by a wide range of actors’ resources in their respective capacities and possibilities.

3. Raise awareness on key opportunities, priority areas, gaps, and challenge: these issues will be addressed throughout the event, including through thematic presentations, videos, and interventions.

4. Create an opportunity for greater engagement of the private sector and identify concrete future actions to maintain focus on the crisis and involve a wider range of stakeholders in the response.

Conference sessions


 

Streaming and recordings

Events

  • 9 March: Civil Society Organisations Event for the International Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants, and their Host Countries and Communities
    The EU, the Government of Canada and civil society organisations held a high-level dialogue which will take place in virtual format on 9 March. Learn more.

 

  • 15 March: Sector Roundtable Sessions by the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela
    Webstreaming

 

  • 15 to 27 March: “Exodus” – Berlaymont building (outside premises)
    Photo exhibit by Nicolò Filippo Rosso documenting the lives of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America

     
  • 16 March: Public Screening of Documentary “The Journey that never Ends: Leaving Everything Behind to Start Again” (45’)

Related links

Press releases

Factsheets and documents

  • 15 MARCH 2023
LAC RMD Coalition Statement
English
(214.88 KB - PDF)
Download
  • 4 MAY 2023
Venezuela Solidarity Conference 2023 Report
English
(975.69 KB - PDF)
Download

Previous editions