The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a
United Nations agency
The United Nations System consists of the United Nations' six principal organs (the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the UN Secretariat), ...
mandated to aid and
protect refugees,
forcibly displaced communities, and
stateless people
In international law, a stateless person is someone who is "not considered as a national by any state under the operation of its law". Some stateless people are also refugees. However, not all refugees are stateless, and many people who are st ...
, and to assist in their
voluntary repatriation, local integration or
resettlement to a third country. It is headquartered in
Geneva
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...
,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, with over 17,300 staff working in 135 countries.
Background
UNHCR was created in 1950 to address the refugee crisis that resulted from
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The
1951 Refugee Convention established the scope and legal framework of the agency's work, which initially focused on Europeans uprooted by the war. Beginning in the late 1950s, displacement caused by other conflicts, from the
Hungarian Uprising to the
decolonization
Decolonization or decolonisation is the undoing of colonialism, the latter being the process whereby imperial nations establish and dominate foreign territories, often overseas. Some scholars of decolonization focus especially on separatism, in ...
of
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
and
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
, broadened the scope of UNHCR's operations. Commensurate with the
1967 Protocol to the Refugee Convention, which expanded the geographic and temporal scope of refugee assistance, UNHCR operated across the world, with the bulk of its activities in developing countries. By its 65th anniversary in 2015, the agency had assisted more 50 million refugees worldwide.
As of June 2020, UNHCR has over 20 million refugees under its mandate.
Consequently, its annual budget has grown from US$300,000 in 1951 to US$8.6 billion in 2019, making it one of the largest UN agencies by expenditure.
The vast majority of UNHCR's budget comes from voluntary contributions, mostly from member states; the largest donors are the United States, the European Union, and Germany. The agency's work includes providing
protection
Protection is any measure taken to guard a thing against damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights. Although th ...
, shelter,
healthcare
Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health profe ...
and
emergency relief
Emergency management or disaster management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management, despite its name, does not actuall ...
, assisting in resettlement and repatriation, and advocating for national and multilateral policies on behalf of refugees.
In recognition of its work, UNHCR has won two
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiolog ...
s, in 1954 and 1981 and a
Prince of Asturias Awards for International Cooperation in 1991.
It is a member of the
United Nations Development Group
The United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), previously the United Nations Development Group (UNDG), is a consortium of 36 United Nations funds, programs, specialized agencies, departments and offices that play a role in development ...
, a consortium of organizations dedicated to
sustainable development
Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...
.
History
![Genf UNHCR](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Genf_UNHCR.JPG)
Following the demise of the
League of Nations
The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...
and the creation of the United Nations the international community was acutely aware of the
refugee crisis
A refugee crisis can refer to difficulties and dangerous situations in the reception of large groups of Forced displacement, forcibly displaced persons. These could be either internally displaced person, internally displaced, refugees, asylum ...
following the end of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. In 1947, the
International Refugee Organization
The International Refugee Organization (IRO) was an intergovernmental organization founded on 20 April 1946 to deal with the massive refugee problem created by World War II. A Preparatory Commission began operations fourteen months previously. ...
(IRO) was founded by the United Nations.
[Refworld , Self-Study Module 1: An Introduction to International Protection. Protecting Persons of Concern to UNHCR](_blank)
Unhcr.org (1 August 2005). Retrieved on 2013-07-12. The IRO was the first international agency to deal comprehensively with all aspects of refugees' lives. Preceding this was the
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was an international relief agency, largely dominated by the United States but representing 44 nations. Founded in November 1943, it was dissolved in September 1948. it became part o ...
, which was established in 1944 to address the millions of people displaced across Europe as a result of World War II.
In the late 1940s, the IRO fell out of favour, but the UN agreed that a body was required to oversee global refugee issues. Despite many heated debates in the General Assembly, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was founded as a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly by Resolution 319 (IV) of the United Nations General Assembly of December 1949. However, the organisation was only intended to operate for 3 years, from January 1951, due to the disagreement of many UN member states over the implications of a permanent body.
UNHCR's mandate was originally set out in its statute, annexed to resolution 428 (V) of the
United Nations General Assembly
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; french: link=no, Assemblée générale, AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN. Curr ...
of 1950. This mandate has been subsequently broadened by numerous resolutions of the General Assembly and its
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
According to UNHCR, its mandate is to provide, on a non-political and humanitarian basis, international protection to refugees and to seek permanent solutions for them.
Soon after the signing of the
1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, it became clear that refugees were not solely restricted to Europe. In 1956, UNHCR was involved in coordinating the response to the uprising in
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
. Just a year later, UNHCR was tasked with dealing with Chinese refugees in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
, while also responding to Algerian refugees who had fled to
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...
and
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
in the wake of
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
's war for independence. The responses marked the beginning of a wider, global mandate in refugee protection and
humanitarian assistance
Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and v ...
.
Decolonisation in the 1960s triggered large refugee movements in Africa, creating a massive challenge that would transform UNHCR; unlike the refugee crises in Europe, there were no durable solutions in Africa, and many refugees who fled one country only found instability in their new country of refuge. By the end of the decade, two-thirds of UNHCR's budget was focused on operations in Africa and in just one decade, the organization's focus had shifted from an almost exclusive focus on Europe.
In 1967, the
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees
The Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees is a key treaty in international refugee law. It entered into force on 4 October 1967, and 146 countries are parties.
The 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees restric ...
was ratified to remove the geographical and temporal restrictions of UNHCR under the
1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. As the Convention was confined to the refugee crisis in the aftermath of World War II in Europe, the Protocol was made to address the “new refugee situations that have arisen since the Convention was adopted and the refugees concerned that may therefore not fall within the scope of the Convention”.
In the 1970s, UNHCR refugee operations continued to spread around the globe, with the mass exodus of East Pakistanis to
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
shortly before the birth of
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
. Adding to the woes in Asia was the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
, with millions fleeing Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
The 1980s saw new challenges for UNHCR, with many member states unwilling to resettle refugees due to the sharp rise in refugee numbers over the 1970s. Often, these refugees were not fleeing wars between states, but inter-ethnic conflict in newly independent states. The targeting of civilians as military strategy added to the displacement in many nations, so even 'minor' conflicts could result in a large number of displaced persons. Whether in Asia, Central America or Africa, these conflicts, fueled by superpower rivalry and aggravated by socio-economic problems within the concerned countries, durable solutions continued to prove a massive challenge for the UNHCR. As a result, the UNHCR became more heavily involved with assistance programs within refugee camps, often located in hostile environments.
The end of the
Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
marked continued inter-ethnic conflict and contributed heavily to refugee flight. In addition, humanitarian intervention by multinational forces became more frequent and the media began to play a big role, particularly in the lead up to the 1999
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
mission in
FR Yugoslavia
Serbia and Montenegro ( sr, Cрбија и Црна Гора, translit=Srbija i Crna Gora) was a country in Southeast Europe located in the Balkans that existed from 1992 to 2006, following the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yug ...
, while by contrast, the
1994 Rwandan Genocide had little attention. The genocide in Rwanda caused a massive refugee crisis, again highlighting the difficulties for UNHCR to uphold its mandate, and the UNHCR continued to battle against restrictive refugee policies in so called 'rich' nations.
According to a 2021 study, the UNHCR has fulfilled its mandate to serve refugees independent of their location consistently over time. The organization has shown limited bias towards donors in the geographical distribution of its funds.
Function
![UNHCR DADAAB REGION, KENYA AFRICA DOD 2006](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/UNHCR_DADAAB_REGION%2C_KENYA_AFRICA_DOD_2006.JPEG)
UNHCR was established on 14 December 1950
[{{cite web, url=http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646cbc.html, title=History of UNHCR: A global humanitarian organization of humble origins, publisher=UNHCR, access-date=2009-11-01] and succeeded the earlier
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was an international relief agency, largely dominated by the United States but representing 44 nations. Founded in November 1943, it was dissolved in September 1948. it became part o ...
. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees (other than
Palestinian refugees, who are assisted by
UNRWA
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. UNRWA's mandate encompasses Palestinians displaced by the 1948 ...
) and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to
seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, with the option to
return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to
resettle in a third country.
UNHCR's mandate has gradually been expanded to include protecting and providing humanitarian assistance to whom it describes as other persons "of concern," including
internally displaced person
An internally displaced person (IDP) is someone who is forced to leave their home but who remains within their country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the legal definitions of a refugee.
...
s (IDPs) who would fit the legal definition of a
refugee under the 1951 United Nations
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention or the Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951, is a United Nations multilateral treaty that defines who a refugee is, and sets out the rights of individual ...
and 1967 Protocol, the 1969
Organization for African Unity Convention, or some other treaty if they left their country, but who presently remain in their country of origin. UNHCR presently has major missions in
Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
,
South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...
,
Chad
Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
/
Darfur,
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
,
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
as well as
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
to assist and provide services to IDPs and
refugees in camps and in
urban settings.
UNHCR maintains a database of refugee information, ProGres, which was created during the
Kosovo War
The Kosovo War was an armed conflict in Kosovo that started 28 February 1998 and lasted until 11 June 1999. It was fought by the forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (i.e. Serbia and Montenegro), which controlled Kosovo before the war ...
in the 1990s. The database today contains data on over 11 million refugees or about 11% of all displaced persons globally. The database contains biometric data, including
fingerprint
A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. The recovery of partial fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of forensic science. Moisture and grease on a finger result in fingerprints on surfac ...
s and
iris scans and is used to determine aid distribution for recipients. The results of using biometric verification have been successful. When introduced in Kenyan refugee camps of
Kakuma
Kakuma is a town in northwestern Turkana County, Kenya. It is the site of a UNHCR refugee camp, established in 1992. The population of Kakuma town was 60,000 in 2014, having grown from around 8,000 in 1990. In 1991, the camp was established to ho ...
and
Dadaab in the year 2013, the
UN World Food Programme
The World Food Programme; it, Programma alimentare mondiale; es, Programa Mundial de Alimentos; ar, برنامج الأغذية العالمي, translit=barnamaj al'aghdhiat alealami; russian: Всемирная продовольствен ...
was able to eliminate $1.4m in waste and fraud.
To achieve its mandate, the UNHCR engages in activities both in the countries of interest and in countries with donors. This includes hosting "expert roundtables" to discuss issues of concern to the international refugee community.
Palestine refugee mandate
{{Main, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Palestinian refugees living in the regions covered by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) are not under the care of UNHCR.
Public awareness and future of refugees
![UNHCR Stamps of Tajikistan 2001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/UNHCR_Stamps_of_Tajikistan_2001.jpg)
Several new programs have recently been introduced to support and to heighten awareness of the issues faced by refugees around the world. These two new programs are a product of the benchmarks set out by the
United Nations Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 that had been established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millenni ...
.
The UNHCR works in different regions of the world to raise awareness about the refugee crisis and the needs of these refugees.
Since 2009, the UNHCR acknowledged a large presence of migration and refugees in the
Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
, where the refugee crisis remained largely unreported.
[{{Cite news, url=http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/latest/2011/2/4d5d27676/unhcr-caribbean-partners-work-raise-awareness-invisible-refugees.html, title=UNHCR and Caribbean partners work to raise awareness of "invisible" refugees, last=Refugees, first=United Nations High Commissioner for, newspaper=UNHCR, access-date=2016-11-16] The issue stems from refugees who, instead of applying to the U.N., improperly search for asylum in the United States, ultimately failing to reach their destination and remaining in the Caribbean.
[{{Cite web, url=http://ftp.jamaicagleaner.com/power/14496, title=UNHCR discuss plight of refugees in Caribbean, website=ftp.jamaicagleaner.com, date=19 November 2009 , access-date=2016-11-16] However, migrant laws in some of these nations lacked any protections for
asylum-seekers
An asylum seeker is a person who leaves their country of residence, enters another country and applies for right of asylum, asylum (i.e., international protection) in that other country. An asylum seeker is an Immigration, immigrant who has b ...
, including the ability to be recognized as such.
In response, the UNHCR organized talks with these nations in
Costa Rica
Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...
in 2009,
seeking to address the lack of protections for refugees and their prosecution as unauthorized migrants.
A refugee-seeker applies through the U.N. for placement and an asylum-seeker applies within the Country in which asylum is sought. This is why some Countries label refugees as illegal when they did not apply through the U.N. for placement and entered the country unlawfully.
In 2007, UNHCR offices in Canada launched an aggressive media campaign to shed light on the plight of refugees.
[{{Cite news, url=http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/news/latest/2007/5/464884684/canadian-made-refugee-awareness-campaign-aims-shock.html, title=Canadian-made refugee awareness campaign aims to shock, last=Refugees, first=United Nations High Commissioner for, newspaper=UNHCR, access-date=2016-11-16] This campaign was meant to humanize the refugee crisis by showing refugees living in the midst of disturbing conditions. Using emotional appeals to raise public awareness, the campaign hoped to increase the interest of particularly "30 to 45-year-old professionals who are generally well educated, well-read, but have not had direct experience or knowledge of refugee issues,”
according to fund-raising officer Jonathan Wade.
In Ireland, the UNHCR works to inform the public through different channels. The UNHCR in Ireland actively pursues media relations.
[{{Cite web, url=http://www.unhcr.ie/our-work-in-ireland/building-awareness, title=Building Awareness, last=Refugees, first=United Nations High Commissioner for, website=www.unhcr.ie, access-date=2016-11-16] It also holds public events with the aim of informing people about current refugee crises. One of these is the annual UNHCR/SARI Fair play Football Cup.
The UNHCR was prominent in helping Syrian refugees in Lebanon. When the Lebanese government was unable to withstand the influx of refugees, the UNHCR stepped in and eased the displacement for the refugees mainly by offering food and healthcare. They also helped register the refugees, so they would not be considered illegal in the eyes of the Lebanese government. Many Syrian refugees are also in Jordan.
Artworks on refugee crisis and artists as activists for refugees
Many contemporary artists had art workshops and art project and took many initiatives for refugees including artist
Ai Weiwei
Ai Weiwei (, ; born 28 August 1957) is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist. Ai grew up in the far northwest of China, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his father's exile. As an activist, he has been openly c ...
and
Anish Kapoor
Sir Anish Mikhail Kapoor (born 12 March 1954) is a British-Indian sculptor specializing in installation art and conceptual art. Born in Mumbai, Kapoor attended the elite all-boys Indian boarding school The Doon School, before moving to the UK ...
led London walk of compassion for refugees walking from the Royal Academy of Arts to the Orbit. Among art exhibitions and artworks on refugees, Ai created an inflatable artwork is 230 feet long which he exhibited at Prague's National Gallery and Sydney Biennale in 2018,The human rights activist has brought a 196-foot-long inflatable installation to Sydney's Cockatoo Island as one of the cornerstones of the Biennale of Sydney exhibition. Ai states: "There’s no refugee crisis, only a human crisis… In dealing with refugees we’ve lost our very basic values. In this time of uncertainty, we need more tolerance, compassion and trust for each other, since we are all one, otherwise humanity will face an even bigger crisis."
Danish artist
OLAFUR ELIASSON
Olafur Eliasson ( is, Ólafur Elíasson; born 5 February 1967) is an Icelandic–Danish artist known for sculptured and large-scale installation art employing elemental materials such as light, water, and air temperature to enhance the viewer's ...
’S GREEN LIGHT welcomes conversation about refugee crisis. In Paris walls along the Seine a photo exhibition along the banks included a 370-meter long panorama featuring portraits of refugees and photographs titled “Dreams of Humanity” taken by Syrian refugee children living in Iraq which was organized in collaboration with famous photojournalist Reza in partnership with UNHCR. Bangladeshi artist
Firoz Mahmud
Firoz Mahmud ( bn, ফিরোজ মাহমুদ) is a Bangladeshi visual artist based in Japan. He was the first Bangladeshi fellow artist in research at Rijksakademie Van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. Mahmud's work has been exhibited at t ...
has been conducting an art project on refugees, displaced people and minorities, titling 'Soaked Dream project' of dream and future desire of those deprived and underprivileged people which he exhibited at Bangkok Art Biennale curated by
Apinan Poshyananda, Lahore Biennale,
Dhaka Art Summit
Dhaka Art Summit is an art summit held in Dhaka, Bangladesh and is organised by Samdani Art Foundation, a non- profit art infrastructure development organisation founded by Nadia Samdani. and Rajeeb Samdani in 2011.
About
The summit displays ...
,
MAXXI Rome, Office for Contemporary Art, Oslo and many cities in the world. The Harmony Art Collective had an exhibition of young refugees made murals together in Darling Quarter, Sydney.
Cooperation within the United Nations
As UNHCR is a programme governed by the
UN General Assembly
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; french: link=no, Assemblée générale, AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN. Curr ...
, and the
UN Economic and Social Council
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC; french: links=no, Conseil économique et social des Nations unies, ) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields ...
, it cooperates with many other programs and agencies under the United Nations in order to effectively protect the rights of refugees.
On 19 September 2016, the UN General Assembly hosted the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants, a high-level summit to address large movements of refugees and migrants, with the aim of bringing countries together behind a more humane and coordinated approach. Leaders of the
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, commonly known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) or the United Nations Human Rights Office, is a department of the Secretariat of the United Nati ...
,
UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women,
UN Office on Drugs and Crime
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC; French: ''Office des Nations unies contre la drogue et le crime'') is a United Nations office that was established in 1997 as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the ...
, and the
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...
were present. The summit addressed the root causes and drive for migration and the necessity of global cooperation. As a result of this summit, the United Nations unveiled a draft set of principles that urge the international community to build on the momentum set by the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (2016).
[{{cite web , title=New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants , url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/71/1 , website=un.org , publisher=UN , access-date=8 November 2018][{{cite web , title=New York Declaration , url=https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/declaration , website=un.org , date=15 September 2016 , publisher=UN , access-date=8 November 2018] Specifically, the 20 draft principles focus on human rights; non-discrimination; rescue and assistance; access to justice; border governance; returns; violence; detention; family unity; child migrants; women migrants;
right to health
The right to health is the economic, social, and cultural right to a universal minimum standard of health to which all individuals are entitled. The concept of a right to health has been enumerated in international agreements which include the U ...
; adequate standard of living; decent work; right to education; right to information; monitoring and accountability; migrants’ human rights defenders; data; and international cooperation.
On 28 September 2016, the UNHCR partnered with the UN
Food and Agricultural Organization in Tehran for the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees. FAO highlighted the contributions to be made by FAO towards SSAR objectives on livelihood related activities including livestock and fishery initiatives as well as nutritional projects in Iranian schools.
FAO and UNHCR are committed to increasing refugees’ access to livelihood opportunities and reducing dependency on humanitarian aid. Of late, a joint livelihood strategy for South Sudan was launched looking to address this issue with a clearly defined action plan. The strategy targets both refugees (70%) and local communities (30%) in refugee-hosting areas across the country.
Awards
Since 1954, the
UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award has been annually awarded to a person or an organization in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees, displaced or stateless people.
The UNHCR itself was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiolog ...
in 1954 and 1981. The UNHCR was awarded the
Indira Gandhi Prize in 2015.
In 1991 was awarded the
Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation.
File:Darfur refugee camp in Chad.jpg, Refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees and people in refugee-like situations. Refugee camps usually accommodate displaced people who have fled their home country, but camps are also made for internally displaced peo ...
in Darfur (Chad
Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
)
File:Army Lynx Helicopter Helps Transport Aid in Macedonia MOD 45108219.jpg, A helicopter arrives at a refugee facility in North Macedonia
North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...
with an underslung load of Aid
File:Trucks loaded with supplies to aid Kurdish refugees.JPEG, Trucks loaded with supplies drive across the border from Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
into Iraq to take part in Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II were military operations initiated by the United States and other Coalition nations of the Persian Gulf War, starting in April 1991, to defend Kurdish refugees fleeing their homes in northern ...
, a multinational effort to aid Kurdish refugees
File:USMC-120516-M-RU378-103.jpg, An UNHCR-officer talks with a Marine during Exercise Eager Lion 12
File:UNHCR in Kenya.jpg, Workers from the UNHCR, and CARE International gather bundles of shelters and mosquito nets in Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
File:Somalia (Somaliland), Hargeisa, UNHCR-compound.JPG, Heavily fortified UNHCR offices in Somaliland
Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...
File:UNHCR camp.jpg, A UNHCR refugee camp at Baharka - Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
File:UNHCR Camp für syrische Flüchtlinge (15945778191).jpg, UNHCR Camp, Kurdistan
Kurdistan ( ku, کوردستان ,Kurdistan ; lit. "land of the Kurds") or Greater Kurdistan is a roughly defined geo-cultural territory in Western Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population and the Kurdish culture, Kurdish la ...
( Northern Iraq) June 2014
File:Syrische Flüchtlingskinde rim UNHCR Camp (15947073972).jpg, UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integrati ...
Camp, Kurdistan ( Northern Iraq) June 2014
File:UNHCR Camp (15947735935).jpg, Inside the refugee camps of Northern Iraq
Persons of concern to UNHCR
The UNHCR's Mid-Year Trends report of June 2015 (based on information for mid-2015 or latest available information up to that date) reported an "unprecedented" 57,959,702 individuals falling under its mandate (for reference, on 1 January 2007, 21,018,589 people – or less than half of the number in 2015 – fell under the mandate of the UNHCR). The sharp increase was mainly attributed to the
Syrian Civil War, "with the outbreak of armed crises or the deterioration of ongoing ones in countries like
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
,
Burundi
Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili language, Swahili: ''Jamuhuri ya Burundi''; French language, French: ''République du Burundi'' ), is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the ...
,
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
,
Mali
Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali ...
,
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
,
South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...
and the
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
contributing to prevailing trends."
Persons of concern include
refugees and asylum-seekers, people in refugee-like conditions,
internally-displaced people (IDPs),
stateless persons
In international law, a stateless person is someone who is "not considered as a national by any state under the operation of its law". Some stateless people are also refugees. However, not all refugees are stateless, and many people who are s ...
and "others of concern to the UNHCR".
![An Aerial View of the Za'atri Refugee Camp](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/An_Aerial_View_of_the_Za%27atri_Refugee_Camp.jpg)
Sorted by the UNHCR bureau in which refuge or asylum is sought, the number for June 2015 included:
* 16,796,426 in the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...
and
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
, of which
** 2,941,121 are refugees
** 64,166 are in refugee-like situations
** 109,847 have pending asylum cases
** 374,309 are stateless ("persons not considered as nationals by any State")
** 13,297,101 are IDPs or people in IDP-like situations assisted by the UNHCR
* 9,694,535 in the
Asia and Pacific bureau, of which
** 3,506,644 are refugees
** 278,350 are in refugee-like situations
** 133,894 have pending asylum cases
** 1,801,802 are stateless ("persons not considered as nationals by any State")
** 2,965,211 are IDPs or people in IDP-like situations assisted by the UNHCR
*8,451,275 in
East
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from the fa ...
and
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
, of which
** 2,713,748 are refugees
** 33,553 are in refugee-like situations
** 108,016 have pending asylum cases
** 233,726 are stateless ("persons not considered as nationals by any State"
** 5,119,463 are IDPs or people in IDP-like situations assisted by the UNHCR
*7,726,594 in the
Americas
The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World.
Along with th ...
, of which
** 501,049 are refugees
** 251,888 are in refugee-like situations
** 276,394 have pending asylum cases
** 136,413 are stateless ("persons not considered as nationals by any State")
** 6,520,270 are IDPs or people in IDP-like situations assisted by the UNHCR
* 7,585,581 in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
, of which
** 3,506,644 are refugees
** 14,261 are in refugee-like situations
** 827,374 are asylum-seekers
** 610,532 are stateless ("persons not considered as nationals by any State"
** 2,574,886 are IDPs or people in IDP-like situations assisted by the UNHCR
* 3,580,181 in
Central Africa
Central Africa is a subregion of the African continent comprising various countries according to different definitions. Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, ...
-
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lakes ...
, of which
** 865,112 are refugees
** 13,741 are in refugee-like situations
** 18,623 have pending asylum cases
** 1,302 are stateless ("persons not considered as nationals by any State"
** 2,021,269 are IDPs or people in IDP-like situations assisted by the UNHCR
*2,754,893 in
Western Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurita ...
of which
** 258,893 are refugees
** (Information not applicable/unavailable) on number in refugee-like situations
** 9,298 have pending asylum cases
** 700,116 are stateless ("persons not considered as nationals by any State")
** 1,549,516 are IDPs or people in IDP-like situations assisted by the UNHCR
*1,370,217 in
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number of ...
, of which
** 179,837 are refugees
** (Information not applicable/unavailable) on number in refugee-like situations
** 860,500 have pending asylum cases
** 300,000 are stateless ("persons not considered as nationals by any State")
** (Information not applicable/unavailable) on number of IDPs or people in IDP-like situations assisted by the UNHCR
2019
{{ #invoke:Chart , bar-chart
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{{col-begin
{{col-2
{{Legend, green, Refugees (incl. refugee-like situations)
{{Legend, aqua, Asylum-seekers (pending cases)
{{Legend, yellow, Returned refugees
{{Legend, blue, Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
{{col-2
{{Legend, red, Returned IDPs
{{Legend, lime, Stateless persons
{{Legend, violet, Others of concern
{{col-end
Staffing
{{As of, 2018, 11, the UNHCR employed a staff of 16,765 people in 138 countries.
High Commissioners
{{Infobox official post
, post = High Commissioner
, body = the UNHCR
, native_name =
, insignia = Emblem of the United Nations.svg
, insigniasize =
, insigniacaption =
, flag =
, flagsize =
, flagborder =
, flagcaption =
, image = Filippo Grandi April 2016 (26380573300) (cropped).jpg
, imagesize =
, alt =
, incumbent =
Filippo Grandi
Filippo Grandi (born March 30, 1957) is an Italian diplomat and United Nations official, currently serving as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He previously served as Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agen ...
, acting =
, incumbentsince = January 2016
, department = High Commissioner for Refugees
, style =
, type =
, status =
, abbreviation =
, member_of =
, reports_to =
UN General Assembly
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; french: link=no, Assemblée générale, AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN. Curr ...
, residence =
, seat =
, nominator =
, appointer = UN General Assembly
, appointer_qualified =
, termlength = 5 years
, termlength_qualified =
, constituting_instrument =
, precursor =
, formation = {{Start date and years ago, 1951, 01, 01, df=y
, first =
Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart
, last =
, abolished =
, succession =
, unofficial_names =
, deputy =
, salary =
, website = {{official website, https://www.unhcr.org/the-high-commissioner.html
The UN General Assembly elects High Commissioners every five years. High Commissioners are supported by the 'Executive Committee to the High Commissioner's Programme' and he or she has to make annual reports to the UN General Assembly and needs to follow their directives. The current High Commissioner is
Filippo Grandi
Filippo Grandi (born March 30, 1957) is an Italian diplomat and United Nations official, currently serving as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He previously served as Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agen ...
, who has held the post since 1 January 2016. Prior to the establishment of the UNHCR,
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (; 10 October 186113 May 1930) was a Norwegian polymath and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He gained prominence at various points in his life as an explorer, scientist, diplomat, and humanitarian. He led the team t ...
was the
League's High Commissioner for Refugees. The post of High Commissioner has been held by:
{{Officeholder table start
, showorder = y
, showimage = y
, officeholder_title = High Commissioner
, showtermlenght = y
, showparty = n
, showdefencebranch = n
, showaltofficeholder = y
, alt_officeholder_title = Nationality
{{Officeholder table
, order = 0
, image = Bundesarchiv Bild 102-09772, Fridjof Nansen.jpg
, officeholder =
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (; 10 October 186113 May 1930) was a Norwegian polymath and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He gained prominence at various points in his life as an explorer, scientist, diplomat, and humanitarian. He led the team t ...
, officeholder_sort = Nansen, Fridtjof
, officeholder_note = {{small,
League of Nations
The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...
High Commissioner
, born_year = 1861
, died_year = 1930
, term_start = 1 September 1921
, term_end = 1927
, timeinoffice = {{age in years, 1922, 1927 years
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Norway
{{Officeholder table
, order = 1
, image = HeuvenGoedhart1944.jpg
, officeholder =
Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart
, officeholder_sort = Goedhart, Gerrit Jan van Heuven
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1901
, died_year = 1956
, term_start = 1 January 1951
, term_end = 8 July 1956
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 1951, 01, 01, 1956, 07, 08
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Netherlands
{{Officeholder table
, order = 2
, image = Dr. August Lindt, Swiss Ambassador the the United States signs Mayor John F. Collins' guestbook (13563357194).jpg
, officeholder =
August R. Lindt
August Rudolf Lindt (5 August 1905 – 14 April 2000), also known as Auguste R. Lindt, was a Swiss lawyer and diplomat. He served as Chairman of UNICEF from 1953 to 1954 and as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1956 to 1960.
Care ...
, officeholder_sort = Lindt, August R.
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1905
, died_year = 2000
, term_start = 8 July 1956
, term_end = 3 November 1960
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 1956, 07, 08, 1960, 11, 03
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Switzerland
{{Officeholder table
, order = 3
, image = blank.png
, officeholder =
Félix Schnyder
Felix Schnyder (5 March 1910 – 8 November 1992) was a Swiss lawyer and diplomat. He served as Chairman of UNICEF in 1960 and as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1960 to 1965.
Career
Schnyder studied law and joined the Swiss ...
, officeholder_sort = Schnyder, Félix
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1910
, died_year = 1992
, term_start = 3 November 1960
, term_end = 31 December 1965
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 1960, 11, 03, 1965, 12, 31
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Switzerland
{{Officeholder table
, order = 4
, image = Sadruddin Aga Khan (1991) by Erling Mandelmann.jpg
, officeholder =
Sadruddin Aga Khan
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan ( ar, صدر الدين آغا خان, , 1933 – 2003) was a statesman and activist who served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1966 to 1977, during which he reoriented the agency's focus beyond ...
, officeholder_sort = Khan, Sadruddin Aga
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1933
, died_year = 2003
, term_start = 1 January 1966
, term_end = 31 December 1977
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 1966, 01, 01, 1977, 12, 31
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Iran, 1964
{{Officeholder table
, order = 5
, image = Poul Hartling.jpg
, officeholder =
Poul Hartling
Poul Hartling (14 August 1914 – 30 April 2000) was a Danish politician and diplomat. He was leader of Venstre from 1965 to 1977, and served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 1973 to 1975. Prior to that, he served as foreign minister from 1968 ...
, officeholder_sort = Hartling, Poul
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1914
, died_year = 2000
, term_start = 1 January 1978
, term_end = 31 December 1985
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 1978, 01, 01, 1985, 12, 31
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Denmark
{{Officeholder table
, order = 6
, image = blank.png
, officeholder = {{interlanguage link, Jean-Pierre Hocké, de
, officeholder_sort = Hocké, Jean-Pierre
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1938
, died_year =
, term_start = 1 January 1986
, term_end = 31 December 1989
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 1986, 01, 01, 1989, 12, 31
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Switzerland
{{Officeholder table
, order = 7
, image = Thorvald Stoltenberg 2009.jpg
, officeholder =
Thorvald Stoltenberg
Thorvald Stoltenberg (8 July 1931 – 13 July 2018) was a Norwegian politician and diplomat. He served as Minister of Defence from 1979 to 1981 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1987 to 1989 and again from 1990 to 1993 in two Labour governme ...
, officeholder_sort = Stoltenberg, Thorvald
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1931
, died_year = 2018
, term_start = 1 January 1990
, term_end = 3 November 1990
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 1990, 01, 01, 1990, 11, 03
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Norway
{{Officeholder table
, order = 8
, image = Sadako Ogata - World Economic Forum on Africa 2008.jpg
, officeholder =
Sadako Ogata
, was a Japanese academic, diplomat, author, administrator, and professor emerita at the Roman Catholic Sophia University. She was widely known as the head of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from 1991 to ...
, officeholder_sort = Ogata, Sadako
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1927
, died_year = 2019
, term_start = 3 November 1990
, term_end = 31 December 2000
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 1990, 11, 03, 2001, 01, 01
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Japan
{{Officeholder table
, order = 9
, image = Ruud Lubbers, 2011 (cropped).jpg
, officeholder =
Ruud Lubbers
Rudolphus Franciscus Marie "Ruud" Lubbers (; 7 May 1939 – 14 February 2018) was a Dutch politician, diplomat and businessman who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1982 to 1994, and as United Nations High Commissioner for Re ...
, officeholder_sort = Lubbers, Ruud
, officeholder_note = {{small, (Resigned due to internal investigation)
, born_year = 1939
, died_year = 2018
, term_start = 1 January 2001
, term_end = 20 February 2005
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 2001, 01, 01, 2005, 02, 20
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Netherlands
{{Officeholder table
, order = {{sort, 9.5, –
, image = Wendy Chamberlin, May 2003 cropped.jpg
, officeholder =
Wendy Chamberlin
Wendy Jean Chamberlin (born 12 August 1948) is a veteran diplomat who has served in the United States Department of State and USAID, worked for the UN High Commissioner on Refugees ( UNHCR), and served as President of the Middle East Institute u ...
, officeholder_sort = Chamberlin, Wendy
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1948
, died_year =
, term_start = 24 February 2005
, term_end = 2 June 2005
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 2005, 02, 24, 2005, 06, 02
, acting = y
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, USA
{{Officeholder table
, order = 10
, image = António Guterres meeting with Iranian Interior Minister 01.jpg
, officeholder =
António Guterres
António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres ( , ; born 30 April 1949) is a Portuguese politician and diplomat. Since 2017, he has served as secretary-general of the United Nations, the ninth person to hold this title. A member of the Portuguese Socia ...
, officeholder_sort = Guterres, António
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1949
, died_year =
, term_start = 2 June 2005
, term_end = 31 December 2015
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 2005, 06, 02, 2015, 12, 31
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Portugal
{{Officeholder table
, order = 11
, image = Filippo Grandi April 2016 (26380573300) (cropped).jpg
, officeholder =
Filippo Grandi
Filippo Grandi (born March 30, 1957) is an Italian diplomat and United Nations official, currently serving as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He previously served as Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agen ...
, officeholder_sort = Grandi, Filippo
, officeholder_note =
, born_year = 1957
, died_year =
, term_start = 1 January 2016
, timeinoffice = {{ayd, 2016, 01, 01
, alt_officeholder = {{flagcountry, Italy
{{Officeholder table end
Special Envoy of High Commissioner Filippo Grandi
* {{flagicon, USA
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie (; born Angelina Jolie Voight; June 4, 1975) is an American actress, filmmaker, humanitarian and former Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award ...
After 10 years serving as a Goodwill Ambassador,
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie (; born Angelina Jolie Voight; June 4, 1975) is an American actress, filmmaker, humanitarian and former Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award ...
was promoted in 2012 to Special Envoy to the High Commissioner. In this role she represents the UNHCR and High Commissioner Filipo Grandi at the diplomatic level and works to facilitate long-term solutions for people displaced by large-scale crises, such as Afghanistan and Somalia. "This is an exceptional position reflecting an exceptional role she has played for us," said a UNHCR spokesman.
Goodwill ambassadors
UNHCR is also represented by a number of
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador is an official postnominal honorific, honorific title, title of authority, legal status and job description assigned to those Goodwill ambassador, goodwill ambassadors and activists, advocates who are designated by the ...
s, who at present are:
*{{flagdeco, USA{{flagdeco, Sweden
Barbara Hendricks
Barbara Hendricks (born November 20, 1948) is an American operatic soprano and concert singer. Hendricks has lived in Europe since 1977, and in Switzerland in Basel since 1985. She is a citizen of Sweden following her marriage to a Swedish c ...
(Honorary Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador)
*{{flagdeco, AUS
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Elise Blanchett (; born 14 May 1969) is an Australian actor. Regarded as one of the finest performers of her generation, she is known for her versatile work across independent films, blockbusters, and the stage. She has received nu ...
*{{flagdeco, GBR
David Morrissey
David Mark Joseph Morrissey (born 21 June 1964) is an English actor and filmmaker. Described by the British Film Institute as "one of the most versatile English actors of his generation", he is noted for the meticulous preparation and research h ...
*{{flagdeco, GBR
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard MacKinnon GaimanBorn as Neil Richard Gaiman, with "MacKinnon" added on the occasion of his marriage to Amanda Palmer. ; ( Neil Richard Gaiman; born 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, gr ...
*{{flagdeco, CHN
Yao Chen
Yao Chen (, born 5 October 1979) is a Chinese actress and philanthropist. In 2014, ''Time'' named Yao as one of the most influential people on their ''Time 100'' list. As of 2014, she is listed as the 83rd most powerful woman in the world by '' ...
*{{flagdeco, FRA
Julien Clerc
Paul Alain Leclerc (born 4 October 1947), known by his stage name Julien Clerc (), is a French singer-songwriter.
Life
Born in Paris, Clerc grew up listening to classical music in his father Paul Leclerc's home, while his mother Évelyne Merlot ...
*{{flagdeco, GRE
George Dalaras
George Dalaras ( Γιώργος Νταλάρας, 29 September 1949) is a Greek musician and singer. He is one of the most prominent figures of Greek musical culture. In October 2006, he was selected as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Ag ...
*{{flagdeco, ITA
Alessandro Gassman
Alessandro Gassmann (born 24 February 1965) is an Italian actor and film director.
Early life
Gassmann was born in Rome, Italy, the son of Italian actor Vittorio Gassman and French actress Juliette Mayniel. He is of German, Jewish and French ...
*{{flagdeco, AFG, 2013{{flagdeco, USA
Khaled Hosseini
Khaled Hosseini (;Pashto/Dari ; born March 4, 1965) is an Afghan Americans, Afghan-American novelist, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR goodwill ambassador, and former physician. His debut novel ''The Kite Runner'' (2003) wa ...
*{{flagdeco, USA
Kristin Davis
Kristin Landen Davis (also listed as Kristin Lee Davis; born February 23, 1965) is an American actress and producer. She is known for playing Charlotte York Goldenblatt in the HBO romantic comedy series ''Sex and the City'' (1998–2004). Sh ...
*{{flagdeco, EGY
Adel Emam
Adel Emam ( ar, عادل إمام; born 17 May 1940 is an Egyptian film, television, and stage actor. He is primarily a comedian, but he has starred in more serious works and, combined comedy with romance especially in his earlier films, which i ...
*{{flagdeco, SSD
Ger Duany
Ger Duany (born 1978 in Akobo, Greater Upper Nile in South Sudan) is an actor. He is a self-described “village boy”.
Early life
Duany was born in Akobo (then part of Sudan) on November 9, 1978. He had his first experience of war at the ...
*{{flagdeco, MLI
Rokia Traore
*{{flagdeco, URU
Osvaldo Laport
Rubens Osvaldo Jesús Udaquiola Laport (born August 12, 1956, in Juan Lacaze, Uruguay) is a Uruguayan- Argentine actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. In 2000, he earned Martín Fierro Award for his portrayal in television comedy ''Campeones de ...
*{{flagdeco, ESP
Jesús Vázquez
*{{flagdeco, SSD{{flagdeco, GBR
Alek Wek
Alek Wek (born 16 April 1977) is a South Sudanese
South Sudan is home to around 60 indigenous ethnic groups and 80 linguistic partitions among a population of around million. Historically, most ethnic groups were lacking in formal Wester ...
*{{flagdeco, KOR
Jung Woo-sung
Jung Woo-sung (born March 20, 1973) is a South Korean actor and the first Korean UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
Jung started his career as a fashion model, rising to stardom and teenage cult status with the gangster movie '' Beat'' (1997), for which ...
*{{flagdeco, THA
Praya Lundberg
*{{flagdeco, IND
John Abraham
John Abraham (born 17 December 1972) is an Indian actor, film producer, writer and former model working in Hindi films. He has won a National Film Award and received five Filmfare nominations.
After modelling for advertisements and companies ...
*{{flagdeco, SYR
Yusra Mardini
Yusra Mardini OLY ( ar, يسرى مارديني; born 5 March 1998) is a Syrian former competition swimmer and refugee of the Syrian civil war. She was a member of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team (ROT) that competed under the Olympic flag ...
*{{flagdeco, KWT
Sheikha Rima al-Sabah
*{{flagdeco, ARM {{flagdeco, BLR
Iskui Abalyan
Iskui Mirikauna Abalyan ( be, Іскуі Мірыкаўна Абалян, russian: Искуи Мириковна Абалян; born 23 December 1970) is a Belarusian singer. She is a performer of popular repertoire, and also leads music programs ...
*{{flagdeco, PHI
Atom Araullo
Alfonso Tomas Pagaduan Araullo (; born October 19, 1982), professionally known as Atom Araullo, is a Filipino journalist, model, television presenter, triathlete, occasional actor, and radio host.
Araullo is a national Goodwill Ambassador for ...
*{{flagdeco, CAN
Alphonso Davies
Alphonso Boyle Davies (born November 2, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a left-back or winger for club Bayern Munich and the Canada national team. He is regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world due to hi ...
*{{flagdeco, BAN
Tahsan Rahman Khan
Tahsan Rahman Khan (Bengali:তাহসান রহমান খান; born 18 October 1979), known mononymously as Tahsan Khan or Tahsan, is a Bangladeshi musician and actor. He is the lead singer of his own rock band Tahsan and the Band.
...
Previous ambassadors include:
*{{flagdeco, TUR
Muazzez Ersoy
Hatice Yıldız Levent, better known by her stage name Muazzez Ersoy, (born 9 August 1958) is a Turkish classical music singer. In 1998, with the suggestion of the 33rd government of Turkey's Ministry of Culture, she was chosen as a State Arti ...
*{{flagdeco, GBR
Richard Burton
Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable pe ...
*{{flagdeco, PAK
Nazia Hassan
Nazia Hassan (3 April 1965 – 13 August 2000) was a Pakistani singer-songwriter, lawyer and social activist. Referred to as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of South Asian pop, she is considered one of the most influential singe ...
*{{flagdeco, GBR
James Mason
*{{flagdeco, ITA
Sophia Loren
Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone (; born 20 September 1934), known professionally as Sophia Loren ( , ), is an Italian actress. She was named by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest female stars of Classical Hollywood ci ...
Controversies
The 1994–95 repatriation of Rohingyans
According to some scholars, with time UNHCR left an initial preference for asylum and resettlement policies, tending to prefer repatriation measures of refugees instead. Sometimes, this might have led the agency's bureaucratic apparatus to adopt pathological behaviours.
[{{cite book , last1=Barnett , first1=Michael , last2=Finnemore , first2=Martha , title=Rules for the world , url=https://archive.org/details/rulesforworldint00barn , url-access=limited , date=2004 , publisher=Cornell University Press , page]
73
104
An example of the latter might be considered{{according to whom, date=April 2020 the handling of the 1995 Rohingyan crisis. At the time, thousands of Rohingyans were fleeing Burma (or Myanmar), seeking shelter in UNHCR camps in Bangladesh. According to some,{{who, date=April 2020 UNHCR has been decisive in promoting the repatriation of refugees, although NGOs on the field and the UN were skeptical about better political and security conditions in Burma.
[{{cite book , last1=Barnett , first1=Michael , last2=Finnemore , first2=Martha , title=Rules for the world , url=https://archive.org/details/rulesforworldint00barn , url-access=limited , date=2004 , publisher=Cornell University Press , page]
105
120{{citation needed, date=April 2020
Also, controversies arose on the methods with which the UNHCR staff was conducting surveys in the camps to establish if refugees were willing to move back to Burma or not.
See also
{{Portal, Politics
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*
''Against All Odds'' (video game)
*
Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund
The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund (German: ''Deutsche Akademische Flüchtlings Initiative Albert Einstein'' or ''DAFI'') scholarship programme offers refugee students the possibility to pursue an undergraduate degree in ...
, a scholarship program for refugees administered by UNHCR
*
Dadaab
*
Nansen International Office for Refugees
The Nansen International Office for Refugees (''french: Office International Nansen pour les Réfugiés'') was an organization established in 1930 by the League of Nations and named after Fridtjof Nansen, soon after his death, which was internati ...
*
Representative of the UNHCR and WFP, London
The Representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the Representative of the World Food Programme in London are the diplomatic missions of the UNHCR and World Food Programme in the United Kingdom. They were formerly locate ...
*
*
*
*
UniRef
UniRef – University for Refugees – is a humanitarian :en:Non-governmental organization, non-governmental organization, specialized in delivering higher education for refugees, and headquartered in :en:Geneva, Geneva (Switzerland). In partnershi ...
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References
Citations
{{Reflist
Sources
{{refbegin
* Janmyr, Maja. 2016. “Precarity in Exile: The Legal Status of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon”. Refugee Survey Quarterly, no. 35 (November): 58–78.
* Gil Loescher, Alexander Betts and James Milner. ''UNHCR: The Politics and Practice of Refugee Protection into the Twenty-First Century'', Routledge. 2008.
* Alexander Betts. ''Protection by Persuasion: International Cooperation in the Refugee Regime'', Cornell University Press. 2009.
* Gil Loescher. ''The UNHCR and World Politics: A Perilous Path''. Oxford University Press. 2002
* Fiona Terry. ''Condemned to Repeat? The Paradox of Humanitarian Action''. Cornell University Press. 2002.
* Nicholas Steiner. ''Problems of Protection.'' Routledge. 2003.
{{refend
External links
{{Commons category, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
*{{Official website, https://www.unhcr.org/
UNHCR's "Refworld" refugee document and news web site from UNHCR's Status Determination and Protection Information Section (SDPIS) in the Division of International Protection Services (DIPS).
Measuring Protection by Numbers, Report from official websiteOnline video of an address by Ms.
Erika Feller, director, Department of International Protection, UNHCR, in 2005
USCRI's Campaign to End Refugee Warehousing"Prisons of the Stateless: The Derelictions of UNHCR"by Jacob Stevens
Nine Million* {{Nobelprize
*
Global Compact on Refugees
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