NZRAP proudly hosted the workshop Refugee Experts on Meaningful Refugee Participation at the Global Migrations Conference 2024 in Dunedin. The session began with an exploration of meaningful refugee participation from its historical roots to the present, highlighting its recognition in the 2018 Global Compact on Refugees and the work of refugee advisory mechanisms such as NZRAP. These efforts demonstrate the potential for shifting power dynamics and ensuring lived experiences inform policy.
The presentation and discussion, led by Ayan Said and Rabia Talal Albaid, with a short video report from Paula Santacruz, also addressed the role of academia in partnerships with refugees and co-produced research. This included a breakout session for participants which focused on the following key questions: What are the challenges to co-producing research? How can academia better support refugee background scholars? How can research be translated into actionable policies benefiting refugees and local communities? This session reinforced NZRAP’s commitment to advocacy that centres lived experiences and drives impactful change.
