In May 2024, Paula Santacruz represented the NZRAP at the Global Solutions Summit (GSS 2024) in Berlin, Germany. This prestigious event brought together experts and leaders from around the world to discuss pressing global issues. As an inaugural member of NZRAP, Paula shared the advisory mechanism model and contribute to the critical discussion on refugee policy and practice, offering tangible solutions to this urgent issue. Showcasing the model on a panel curated by R-SEAT and the Robert Bosch Stiftung Foundation (RBSF), alongside esteemed experts from Oxford University and RBSF, Paula demonstrated how their academic and professional expertise in law and refugee advocacy, enriched by personal experience, has enhanced NZRAP’s contributions.
At GSS 2024, Paula emphasised the effectiveness of NZRAP’s institutionalised approach in empowering refugees and informing policy objectives and practices. As the official Refugee Advisor to the New Zealand Government Delegation at the GRF, Paula’s expert advice significantly influenced New Zealand’s engagement and practices at global gatherings on refugees. The summit highlighted the need to break the “refugee bubble” and recognise the interconnectedness of forced displacement with other global pressing issues, including climate, health, inequality, peace and security, and AI. The experience in Berlin was a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration, inclusivity, and empathy in addressing complex global issues, reinforcing Paula’s commitment to advancing NZRAP’s mission to inform refugee policies and practices both in New Zealand and globally.