United Nations Human Rights Council

Discussion on the protection of refugees and internally displaced people from war crimes
and crimes against humanity
Portfolio- Denmark

General Speaker’s List Speech

Refugees and IDPs are not just statistics; they are human beings with hopes,
dreams, and aspirations.
Greetings to all the delegates and distinguished executive board. We
cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of millions of people who have
been forced to flee their homes in search of safety and protection.
Denmark, as a nation is fully committed to the protection of refugees &
IDPs. In 2022, Denmark was the 8th biggest government donor and the
4th largest donor per capita. In 2022, Denmark contributed a total of
USD 106.9 million to UNHCR and has consistently been a top donor to
UNHCR. Moreover, part 3 of section 7 in the Aliens Act grants the
refugees a residence permit for one year. Also, the tripartite act has helped
increase the employment rate among refugees to 55.8% in Demark. The
delegate would like to emphasis on the fact that refugees would not have
existed in the first place, had the countries been politically &
economically stable. No one leaves a home, unless the home is a mouth
of a shark. The delegate would like to question countries like Syria,
Afghanistan, Sudan and Ethopia, “Is this how you fulfill the promises of
security and safety to the citizens of your country?” The delegate of
Denmark would like to conclude by calling upon the global community to
take robust measures to build a more inclusive, compassionate, and
peaceful world for all.

Topics for Moderated Caucus:

1. Local integration and resettlement

Local integration is not just about finding a place to live; it's about
finding a sense of belonging, dignity, and opportunity in one's new home
because the original ones were not responsible enough. As one of the first
parties to sign on to the 1951 Convention, Denmark has a long tradition
of providing sanctuary to those in need of international protection. In
Denmark, the state provides the financial and legal framework, whereas
municipalities are responsible for providing integration programmes,
housing etc. Civil society and businesses provide networks and jobs. The
employment rate of refugees in the country has increased to 55.8%
overall, 57% for men and 20% for women. Danish Resetelment
Programme. The Red Cross and Danish Refugee Council created the
project known as Friends Pave the Way which offers the refugees
volunteering friends to guide them and help them settle in Danish society.
Among those were “Venligboerne”(a contraction of “friendly” and
“neighbour”), a grass root movement, which arranged a broad range of
activities with a view to further integration, helping with practical issues
and creating networks for the refugees to become a part of.
Moreover, a reform of Danish language courses was agreed in
Parliament. The main intention was to create a better link between Danish
language courses and the integration of newly arrived foreigners into the
labour market. LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum in Denmark are legally
entitled to protection if they are persecuted because of their sexual
orientation. But according to Danish NGO LGBT+ Asylum, obtaining
asylum on these grounds is anything but simple. The delegate would
like to emphasis that Denmark empowers refugees to rebuild their lives
and contribute positively to their new homeland.

Danish Resettlement Programme

 2. Provision of Basic Amenities for Refugees

Safety, food, shelter and water are the things we tend to take for
granted but these are priceless treasures in the world of a refugee.

Denmark has a well-established national asylum and reception system with an

independent appeals body. 932 individuals were granted refugee status or
another form of protection in Denmark during the first eight months of 2022, in
addition to 27,608 refugees from Ukraine granted protection under the Special
Act on Temporary Residence Permits for Persons Displaced from Ukraine.. As
one of the first parties to sign on to the 1951 Convention, Denmark has a long
tradition of providing sanctuary to those in need of international protection.
Denmark is also a State party to both the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness
Conventions and has over the years demonstrated a strong commitment to
support efforts to end statelessness.

As a rule, education is free for refugees in Denmark. DAFI is the largest higher
education scholarship programme for refugees globally, and it is also the most
long-standing, operating since 1992.
When you have a residence permit and a place of residence in Denmark, you are
entitled to free treatment in most of the healthcare system. The Danish Health
Authority focuses on refugees from Ukraine being offered the necessary health
services when they arrive in Denmark.
The delegate of Denmark encourages countries to work towards durable
solutions such as voluntary repatriation, gather feedback from refugees and
adjust strategies accordingly to meet evolving needs and challenges.
3. Discussion about crimes against humanity faced by
refugees in times of conflict with emphasis on human
trafficking

The modern day form of slavery- trafficking. A violation to one of the most
fundamental human rights, still does not have a legal legislation prohibiting it in
approximately half the countries of the world. Trafficking of women and girls
especially belonging to marginalised communities endangers them to physical
abuse, mental trauma and societal exclusion. Denmark, as a nation has
criminalised both sex and labour trafficking through section 262a of its penal
code. Denmark ratified the Council of Europe's Convention on Action against
Trafficking in Human Beings. But the $150 billion dollar global industry can’t
be shut down by just national legislations. The delegate urges the committee to
recommend stronger international laws and the countries to abide by them.
Lastly the delegate would also like to propose special assistance including
educational, financial and social support to refugees & IDPs subjected to human
trafficking.