The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), backing the Global Refugee Treaty.

A total of 181 countries voted for, including Russia, with the US and Hungary against it; three countries abstained, the Independent reported. 

The US and Hungary along with other countries joined the 2016 New York Declaration, in order to develop international deals concerning migration management and refugee reception.

Afterwards Washington declared it considered the Treaty contradictory to its national interests. According to the US Permanent Representative to the UN, Nikki Haley, the US side intends to determine its own migration policy, while the global approach underlying the New York Declaration simply goes against US sovereignty.

Hungary’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Katalin Bogyay noted that Hungary’s proposals for a fair sharing of the burden of refugees between countries were not reflected in the resolution, and Budapest could not support it.

The Global Agreement on Refugees is based on a set of measures aimed at easing the burden on host countries, increasing the self-sufficiency of refugees, expanding opportunities to attract third countries, and also help create conditions for the safe return of people to their homeland.