HenleyPartners and UNHCR Gala Dinner in Dubai raises over US$ 220,000 to support Syrian refugee families

(MENAFNEditorial) The Henley & Partners and UNHCR Annual Gala was held on 5th November 2015 in Dubai on the side of the Henley & Partners 9th Global Residence & Citizenship Conference and the concurrent launch of Henley Global Citizen Award.

Aimed at supporting Syrian refugee families arriving in Europe, as well as in the first countries of asylum and transit, the annual Henley & Partners – UNHCR Gala Dinner served as an important fundraising initiative. The fully sponsored Gala, held in the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel, brought together a prominent attendance that comprised some of UNHCR's major private supporters and Henley & Partners' high-profile clients - each of the 60 guests contributed a donation per individual participation. The event featured a private live concert by UNHCR Honorary Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador Barbara Hendricks while Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR Director of the Bureau for Europe offered an emotional account of the refugee situation in the Middle East and in Europe.

The art auction included an antique carpet generously donated by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qassimi, First Lady of Sharjah and UNHCR Eminent Advocate, in addition to an art piece in collaboration with Artissima art gallery. The Master of Ceremonies was Katie Fielder, Dubai One news anchor, who facilitated the event which was supported by the International Humanitarian City of Dubai. The proceeds of the event were earmarked to support refugee registration, the first step of protection.

In September 2015, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched an emergency appeal in response to the growing humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in Europe. Over 780,000 persons have crossed the Mediterranean in 2015 alone; the majority are refugees fleeing conflict, violence and persecution; it is estimated that 54% of these refugees are from Syria and most are children. More than 3,440 persons lost their lives in their attempts to reach Europe with its promise of safety from persecution.

"As we continue to witness an unfolding tragedy spread across Europe, we are now at a critical juncture, not only in humanitarian terms but also in global support terms," said Paola De Leo, Head of the UNHCR Global Private Philanthropy Unit. "In these critical times private philanthropy can play a pivotal role making rapid life-saving support promptly available" she added.

Henley & Partners, the global leader in residence and citizenship planning for individuals and families, works all over the world in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency in support of those at the other end of the spectrum of global mobility. Through a multi-year partnership Henley's & Partners will support UNHCR's global refugee registration activities with over 1 million US$ of its own funds, and further advocate and assist UNHCR's resource mobilization efforts in the interests of its people of concern.

The concept of residence and citizenship planning was created by Henley & Partners in the 1990s. As globalization has expanded, residence and citizenship have become topics of significant interest among the increasing number of internationally mobile entrepreneurs and investors. The freedom to move in between borders is today facilitated by a number of successful residence and citizenship programs offered by governments all over the world.

"We work at the forefront of this sector in a unique position to advocate and facilitate Global Citizenship" says Henley & Partners' Chairman, Christian H. Kalin "It is only natural for us to acknowledge the plight of millions of uprooted families who flee each day the horror of war and conflict to look for international protection in other countries and to join our forces with UNHCR".

UNHCR was set up in 1951 to help the estimated 1 million people still uprooted after World War II to return home. Since then, they have helped find durable solutions for tens of millions of refugees through repatriation, local integration or in extreme cases of persecution or insecurity, resettlement. Currently some 60 million people are uprooted worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations. This staggering figure is the highest the world registered at any point since the Second World War.

Henley & Partners' support is primarily focused on funding refugee registration and identification documents. UNHCR's Registration Programme is in fact the entry point for all humanitarian assistance. Proper registration and documentation can most greatly help a refugee to access services, aid or protection under the law. Registration is also key to identify those refugees who are most in need, such as women-headed households, isolated children, disabled people, and provide them with appropriate protection. And UNHCR registration often produces the only form of documentation for these people. Sadly this step is too generally perceived as an administrative process rather than as the gateway to protection and services in other countries and rarely attract donor funding.

Beyond substantial financial support, Henley & Partners integrates advocacy actions for refugees in the corporate social responsibility program by organizing fundraising events and engaging its coworkers, partners and clients to help uprooted people around the world.