United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction | – Establishment: UNHCR was established on December 14, 1950, by the United Nations General Assembly to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. – Purpose: To safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, seeking durable solutions to their plight. – Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. |
| Objectives | – Protection: Ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country. – Assistance: Provide essential services such as shelter, food, water, and medical care to refugees and displaced persons. – Durable Solutions: Facilitate voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement to a third country. – Advocacy: Promote the rights of refugees and influence policies that affect their lives. |
| Members as of December 2024 | – Composition: UNHCR operates in 136 countries and territories, employing over 20,000 staff members, with approximately 91% based in the field. – Executive Committee: Comprised of 118 member states that provide guidance and oversight to UNHCR’s programs. |
| Reports/Indices | – Global Trends Report: An annual publication presenting key statistical trends and the latest numbers of refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced, and stateless persons worldwide. – Global Appeal: An annual report outlining UNHCR’s programs and financial requirements for the coming year. – Global Report: A comprehensive review of UNHCR’s activities and achievements over the past year. – Mid-Year Trends Report: Provides updates on displacement statistics and trends for the first half of the year. – Global Compact on Refugees Indicator Report: Measures progress towards the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees. – Annual Report on Cash Assistance: Highlights UNHCR’s progress in expanding the systematic use of cash assistance and provides an overview of its application in various country operations. – Annual Report on Sustainable Energy: Details UNHCR’s advancements in expanding sustainable energy access for refugees, aligning with the Global Strategy for Sustainable Energy 2019-2025. |
| Instruments | – 1951 Refugee Convention: The cornerstone of refugee protection, defining who is a refugee and outlining the rights of displaced individuals and the legal obligations of states. – 1967 Protocol: Expands the scope of the 1951 Convention by removing geographical and temporal restrictions. – Global Compact on Refugees: A framework for more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation. |
| Structure | – High Commissioner: Leads and directs UNHCR’s work worldwide. – Executive Committee: Provides advice and approves the biennial program budget. – Divisions: Specialized units focusing on areas such as international protection, program support, and external relations. – Field Operations: Regional and country offices implementing programs on the ground. |
| Subsidiary Organs | – Standing Committee: Meets several times a year to carry out the work between Executive Committee sessions. |
| Committees | – Advisory Committee on Fundraising: Provides guidance on resource mobilization strategies. – Audit Committee: Ensures oversight of financial and operational activities. |
| Initiatives | – Global Refugee Forum: A platform for stakeholders to announce actions and pledges to support the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees. – Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF): Applies a whole-of-society approach to address refugee crises, emphasizing inclusion and self-reliance. – Refugee Education 2030: A strategy aiming to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for refugees. – #IBelong Campaign: Aimed at ending statelessness worldwide. – Clean Energy Challenge: Seeks to provide clean energy solutions for refugees and host communities. – 10-Point Plan of Action on Refugee Protection and Mixed Movements: Provides a framework to address mixed migratory movements, focusing on protection-sensitive entry systems and cooperation among key partners. – UNICEF-UNHCR Strategic Collaboration Framework: A partnership to include refugee children and their families in national systems, focusing on education, water, sanitation, hygiene, and child protection. – IFC-UNHCR Joint Initiative: A collaboration with the International Finance Corporation to foster private-sector solutions and support economic opportunities for refugees and host communities. |
