Refugee women's voices at the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review in Geneva
Refugee women are not passive beneficiaries but key actors shaping solutions.
From 15 to 17 December 2025, Liliane Uwase, founder of BRIGHT and Head of Communication at the African Refugee Women-Led Network (ARWNET), took part in the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review in Geneva, made possible through the sponsorship of Oxfam International. The Progress Review is a mid-term global stocktaking between the Global Refugee Forums of 2023 and 2027, on refugee inclusion, gender equality, localisation and meaningful participation.
ARWNET took part as an official delegate network representing refugee women-led organisations across Africa. Liliane joined the sessions on gender equality and ending violence against refugee women and girls, on meaningful refugee participation, on making localisation work, and the UNHCR panel on refugee participation, women's rights and education.
What she brought back:
- refugee women-led organisations are increasingly recognised, but remain significantly underfunded;
- localisation and meaningful participation require long-term commitment, not one-off consultations;
- direct and flexible funding is essential for sustainable impact.
When trusted, resourced, and included, refugee women-led organisations deliver meaningful and sustainable impact.
