From December 15 to 17, 2025, a FIDE delegation consisting of André Voegtlin, Chair of the FIDE Social Commission, and Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, attended the UNHCR Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Geneva.
The GRF is the world’s largest international gathering on refugee issues, convened every four years. It serves as a critical platform for UN Member States and a diverse array of stakeholders—including international organizations, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, and refugee representatives—to discuss and forge concrete solutions for the challenges confronting refugees and their host communities.
The Forum was established to bolster the practical implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2018, the GCR seeks to transform the global response to refugee situations through more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing. Its four key objectives are:
- Easing pressures on host countries;
- Enhancing refugee self-reliance;
- Expanding access to third-country solutions (such as resettlement and complementary pathways); and
- Supporting conditions in countries of origin for safe, dignified, and voluntary returns.
The FIDE delegation participated in several side events. One of particular interest was “Gender Equality and Ending Violence Against Refugee Women and Girls,” a multi-stakeholder event featuring a keynote intervention by Khalida Popal of Girl Power.
- Focus:The event centered on the critical issues of gender equality and the protection of refugee women and girls from gender-based violence (GBV). It highlighted the unique vulnerabilities and strengths of this demographic.
- Key Outcome:It served as a platform to advance and gather support for a specific pledge on “Gender Equality and Protection Against GBV” under the “Avec Elle” initiative. This pledge represents a concrete commitment by various actors to take actionable steps toward these goals within the refugee response framework.
The FIDE delegation found the Forum an invaluable opportunity to engage with the latest developments, challenges, and partnerships in the global refugee response. The focus on gender equality and protection aligns closely with FIDE’s core principles and operational priorities. The delegation will analyze the insights and connections gained to inform FIDE’s ongoing and future strategies in supporting displaced populations, with a particular emphasis on promoting the rights and empowerment of women and girls.
The delegation also held productive meetings with the Sport for Refugees Coalition, engaging with representatives, leaders, and colleagues from the sector. These exchanges focused on cooperation opportunities, best practices, and the role of sport as a tool for the inclusion, protection, and empowerment of refugee communities.
The Sport for Refugees Coalition was represented at the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review by a wide range of international sports federations, organizations, foundations, and advocates. Participating sports federations and governing bodies included: FIFA Foundation, UEFA, World Athletics, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the International Judo Federation (IJF), the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Special Olympics, LIV Golf, and the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF).
They were joined by major foundations and sport-for-development organisations such as Adidas Foundation, Scott Foundation, Olympic Refuge Foundation, the Yusra Mardini Foundation, Girl Power, Play International, Klabu, and Union Sportive des Jeunes Réfugiés (USJR).
The forum also featured high-profile refugee advocates and athletes, including Zakia Khudadadi, Paralympic medalist and UNHCR High-Profile Supporter and Masomah Ali Zada, Chef de Mission of the Refugee Olympic Team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and UNHCR High-Profile Supporter.
André Voegtlin and Anastasia Sorokina welcomed the extensive cooperation plans discussed with UNHCR colleagues ahead of the World Chess Olympiad 2026 in Uzbekistan.