9 February 2016: UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Mogens Lykketoft has appointed Dina Kawar, Permanent Representative of Jordan, and David Donoghue, Permanent Representative of Ireland, as co-facilitators for the intergovernmental consultations leading to the UNGA’s high-level meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants.

The high-level plenary meeting is scheduled for 19 September 2016, immediately prior to the 71st General Debate.

In his letter, Lykketoft says the co-facilitators will lead “open, transparent and inclusive consultations with Member States” to finalize the organizational arrangements for the meeting, including on a possible outcome.

The UNGA decided to convene the high-level meeting in December 2015, also requesting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to prepare a report and recommendations on the issue by May 2016. Ban has appointed Karen AbuZayd, US, as his Special Adviser to work with UN entities and consult with Member States and others in the lead-up to the HLM, as well as to oversee the report. [UNGA President Letter] [IISD RS Story on Preparations for High-Level Meeting]