At the invitation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and as part of the Syrian Forum’s efforts to enhance the presence of the Syrian cause on the international stage, the CEO of the Syrian Forum, Ghassan Hitto, and Advocacy Officer Sally Shobut participated in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
During this participation, they attended high-level ministerial meetings with international leaders and diplomats, where the suffering of the Syrian people was highlighted, and the Syrian cause was firmly established as a key issue on the global agenda. These efforts reflect the Syrian Forum’s ongoing commitment to keeping the Syrian issue at the forefront of international discussions and advocating for the rights of the Syrian people in all forums.
In addition to these meetings, Sally Shobut participated in closed high-level sessions with prominent international and diplomatic delegations, where she provided a detailed overview of the programs and initiatives led by the Syrian Forum to support Syrians inside Syria and in refugee areas. These meetings addressed the efforts to enhance humanitarian support in Syria, and the development of civil society infrastructure, contributing to the empowerment of the Syrian communities most affected by the crisis.
Shobut also joined a high-level session attended by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and a number of senior global executives and prominent international figures from the Netherlands, Peru, and Indonesia during the launch of a comprehensive report covering 15 years of global achievements in sustainable development financing. The report highlighted the positive impact of these efforts in boosting economic opportunities and reducing poverty worldwide, which aligns with the Syrian Forum’s vision of achieving sustainable development in conflict-affected areas in Syria.
The events held this week in New York led to profound discussions that reinforced the importance of international cooperation to achieve sustainable change and push for the development of comprehensive solutions to support vulnerable communities, especially in Syria, as well as in various affected areas around the world.