Chapter II. ANALYSIS OF PLEDGES 1.2.1 Resettlement Throughout 2011, resettlement countries meeting within the framework of the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR) and the Working Group on Resettlement (WGR) 1 considered resettlement-related issues which could be usefully included in pledges for the 2011 Ministerial Intergovernmental Event. Following on an initiative by the ATCR Chair, resettlement countries agreed to consider a common basis for any pledges related to resettlement. During the Ministerial Intergovernmental Event, a large number of resettlement countries used the common language in their respective individual State pledges. Other States adopted part of the text and supplemented it with additional issues related to resettlement. Moreover, States without an established resettlement program – but having engaged in ad hoc resettlement operations in the recent past – also included resettlement activities as part of their pledges. A total of twenty-six States made substantive references to resettlement in their pledges. State pledges involving resettlement refer to the continuation of existing quotas and the creation of additional resettlement places, the commitment to engage in cooperation agreements with new resettlement countries (twinning), the implementation of initiatives to improve resettled refugees’ integration outcomes, the need for effective management of the resettlement process, support to the UNHCR proposed pool of emergency resettlement places, the expansion of existing emergency transit facilities for resettlement, and responses to the resettlement needs of specific refugee groups. Pledges relating to resettlement address a wide range of policy, operational and procedural matters, and are aimed at reinforcing State support to UNHCR resettlement activities and coordination efforts, including in the context of emergency resettlement needs, in a manner which is supports to UNHCR's global strategic priorities. The Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR) and the Working Group on Resettlement (WGR) are the main global fora to review progress and shape joint strategies on resettlement, involving States’ representatives from resettlement countries, NGOs involved in refugee resettlement, other international organizations and UNHCR. As part of UNHCR's global strategy to broaden the base on resettlement, the ATCR has been open to observers from States providing Emergency Transit Facilities, potential/emerging resettlement States as well as other States interested in the resettlement process. For more information on the ATCR and WGR process: http://www.unhcr.org/atcr 1 29