Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted
Make facilitating safe and dignified refugee return a strategic UK foreign policy objective
Recommendation
UNHCR surveys of refugee intentions indicate that most refugees wish to return to their country of origin, when it is safe to do so. Displacement crises will only be solved once communities have a safe and dignified route to return. Facilitating such routes must be strategic objectives of not only UK development policy, but UK foreign policy and diplomacy. (Paragraph 48) 24 UK aid for refugee host countries
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that facilitating safe and dignified returns for refugees must be a strategic objective of both UK development and foreign policy. It confirms it is already working to achieve this through ODA spend, diplomatic efforts, and engagement with UN and multilateral platforms.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We agree facilitating returns of refugees who wish to go back to their countries of origin should be a strategic objective not only of our development policy, but also our foreign policy and diplomacy. The UK recognises most refugees wish to return to their countries of origin. We remain committed to supporting voluntary return of refugees in safety and dignity, including in Lebanon, Jordan and the OPTs. We complement and enhance the impact of our ODA spend to facilitate returns through use of our diplomatic, geopolitical, and influencing efforts at Posts, in UK missions and through the UN Security Council and multilateral platforms. We use our diplomatic levers to give a voice to marginalised groups in crises and improve their protection, drive prioritisation and coordination of global humanitarian and development assistance, lead efforts on humanitarian access, and convene like-minded partners to shape more effective approaches to crises.