UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi presents birth certificates to babies during an award ceremony at Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania in August this year. © UNHCR/Anthony Karumba
GENEVA – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has welcomed the renewal of his mandate by the UN General Assembly, saying he was “humbled” by the decision.
On Monday, the UN General Assembly renewed the mandate for a further two and a half years. Grandi said he was honoured to have the trust of all UN Member States and the Secretary-General.
“I am humbled by this decision. I sincerely thank Member States and our Secretary-General for their trust and support,” Grandi said.
He pledged to keep working tirelessly for the world’s forcibly displaced and expressed gratitude to his colleagues at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
“We are facing huge challenges but I cannot think of a better organization to be part of,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to work with all partners towards solutions for the world’s refugees, displaced, and stateless people, and the communities hosting them.”
Grandi, an Italian national, is the 11th United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He was first elected by the UN General Assembly and took office on 1 January 2016 after a 30-year career working in refugee and humanitarian affairs for the United Nations and non-governmental organisations. Grandi will complete his term on 31 December 2025.
Established in 1950, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of their plight. UNHCR has been twice awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its humanitarian work – in 1954 and in 1981.
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