After two decades of dedicated service with the UN Refugee Agency striving for the rights and safety of forcibly displaced individuals worldwide, Angelina Jolie is stepping down as UNHCR’s Special Envoy to tackle a wider array of humanitarian and human rights causes. As a leading advocate for refugee rights, Ms. Jolie remains committed to promoting a fairer, more inclusive global framework. In a time of intricate and intertwined global challenges, she aims to collaborate with various stakeholders on a broader spectrum of humanitarian concerns and forge closer partnerships with grassroots organizations. While her focus will still encompass refugees and forced displacement concerns, she seeks to broaden her impact in creating positive change on a global scale.
UNHCR has collaborated with Ms. Jolie since 2001, and she was appointed as Special Envoy in 2012. In this crucial position, she has utilized her influential voice to raise awareness and garner support for refugees, while also advocating for immediate action and solutions for those who have been forcibly displaced. Throughout the past two decades, Ms. Jolie has dedicated herself to this cause, embarking on more than 60 field missions to witness firsthand the stories of hardship, as well as stories of resilience and hope. Most recently, she embarked on journeys with UNHCR to Yemen and Burkina Faso, where she met with displaced individuals facing two of the most underfunded and under-reported crises in the world.
UNHCR is grateful for Angelina Jolie’s longstanding support as a humanitarian partner. Her dedication and impact on refugees and displaced people have been invaluable. While we will miss her presence, we understand and respect her decision to broaden her humanitarian work. We have no doubt that she will continue to advocate passionately for refugees and bring her unwavering commitment to a wider range of humanitarian issues. We look forward to maintaining our friendship with her in the future.
In her statement, Ms. Jolie expressed her gratitude for the chance to collaborate with amazing UNHCR field officers and colleagues who are committed to saving lives worldwide. She also mentioned her dedication to continuing her support for refugees and displaced individuals in the future. After two decades of working within the UN, she feels it is time for a change in her approach. She plans to work more closely with refugees and local organizations, helping them advocate for long-term solutions.
