Between Tokenism and Self-Representation: Refugee-Led Advocacy and Inclusion in International Refugee Policy

There have been increasing efforts at the international level to make migrants and refugees’ participation and inclusion in policy more meaningful. Yet, little is known on their perspectives about these possibilities and the outcomes of these efforts. Drawing on the case of one refugee-led initiative, the Network for Refugee Voice (NRV), in attending the drafting process of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), this paper describes the refugee-led advocacy approach to attaining meaningful participation and representation on high policy platforms, including the United Nations organizations. I examine NRV members’ experience of advocating for refugee inclusion against a background of recent international commitment to refugees’ meaningful participation. Based on interviews, my analysis identifies the achievements as self-evaluated by NRV members as well as the challenges they face while highlighting the obstacles and opportunities for a more inclusive international refugee policy.