Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie stepped down as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ambassador after 20 years.
According to major foreign media outlets, such as the Washington Post and CNN, on December 17th (local time), Angelina Jolie issued a joint statement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Announcing her decision to step down from her work with the UN Refugee Agency, she said, “I am grateful for the privilege and opportunity I have had to work with so many outstanding and dedicated UNHCR field officers and other colleagues doing lifesaving work globally, and to serve as Special Envoy.”
Angelina Jolie continued, “After 20 years working within the UN system I feel it is time for me to work differently, engaging directly with refugees and local organisations, and supporting their advocacy for solutions”, adding “I will continue to do everything in my power in the years to come to support refugees and other displaced people.”
Angelina Jolie started working for UNHCR in 2001. After being appointed as a Special Envoy in 2012, she had been active until recently. Over the past 20 years, the actress has visited more than 60 places, including Mosul, Yemen, Burkina Faso, etc. in Iraq to arouse global citizens’ attention to the human rights of refugees. She recently made headlines by visiting Lviv, Ukraine, which was at war.
The Washington Post highlighted Angelina Jolie’s departure from the UN Refugee Agency and pointed out that the UN recently failed to respond to human rights violations.
Through Time magazine in June, Angelina Jolie criticized, “Because of the way the UN was established, they are listening to the interests and voices of powerful countries at the expense of those who live without being treated fairly by war and persecution.”
She said, “For decades, they’ve focused only on working with international organisations and lacked interest in listening to local organizations and volunteers, as well as empowering their efforts.”
In the joint statement, UNHCR’s Chief Executive Filippo Grandi said, “Angelina Jolie has been an important humanitarian partner of UNHCR for very long”, adding “We are grateful for her decades of service, her commitment, and the difference she has made for refugees and people forced to flee. I appreciate her desire to shift her engagement and support her decision”. A UNHCR official also revealed that they had no plan to appoint a new Special Envoy.
Source: Nate
