We are pleased to share a powerful new reflection note from our colleagues at R-SEAT (Refugee Self-Reliance, Equality, and Advocacy Trust), following their participation in the December 2025 Global Refugee Forum Progress Review.
Titled “Beyond Presence: Who Shapes Decisions in Global Refugee Governance?”, this piece asks a straightforward but essential question. In a system where everyone now talks about “inclusion,” are refugees actually influencing the decisions that affect their lives, or is their presence mostly symbolic?
The reflection looks honestly at what happened during the Progress Review. While over 250 participants with lived experience attended and the language of partnership was everywhere, the note questions how much has really changed. It asks whether refugees are being brought into the room to speak or to truly shape outcomes.