Angelina's
Involvement
Angelina intially became involved with the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) a few months before becoming a Goodwill Ambassador. When
Angelina approached the UNHCR, she wanted to learn more about humanitarian
action for refugees.
Beginning in March of 2001, Angelina made several field visits to refugee campes in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Cambodia and Pakistan. Upon her visits, Angelina insisted on covering all costs related to her missions and shared the same rudimentary working and living conditions as UNHCR field staff.
On August 27th, 2001, Angelina was formally appointed as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Angelina was very happy to be officially appointed UNHCR goodwill ambassador. "I have such deep respect for the people you work with and for," she said.
As a Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina helps to educate the public not only about the plight of refugees, but also about the perseverance and courage they show in overcoming all odds to rebuild their lives. In the process, millions of refugees have made enormous contributions to their own societies and to their host countries.
What Is The UNHCR?
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established
on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is
mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees
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.
In more than five decades, the agency has helped an estimated 50 million people restart their lives. Today, a staff of around 5,000 people in more than 120 countries continues to help some 20 million persons.
To find out more about the UNHCR, and how you can help, you can visit any of the following websites:
