Angelina Jolie Ends 20-Year UN Alliance, Looks Forward To More Humanitarian Work

After a twenty-year association with the organisation, Angelina Jolie has stepped down from her role as the United Nations refugees ambassador. In a joint statement released by the UN and Jolie, the actor stated that she's moving on from the organisation to separately work towards the cause of refugees. Angelina Jolie started her association with the United Nations Refugee Agency in 2001. The UN appointed her as its special ambassador in 2012. 

The Oscar-winning actor, who has carried out over sixty field missions to back stories of refugees in their journey of suffering and hope, is now moving on from her role as a UN envoy to work solely in a different route but for the same humanitarian causes.

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Angelina Jolie steps down as UN refugee ambassador

On Friday, Angelina Jolie and the United Nations High Commissioner (UNHCR) for Refugees released a joint statement announcing the end of their 20-year partnership. Global icon Jolie has supported and assisted the United Nation for over two decades in all efforts directed towards supporting refugees across the world. The Academy Award-winning actor has worked as a philanthropist and her alliance with the UN has been slated to be one of her priorities all these years. Having travelled to over sixty missions on the field, Jolie has witnessed the thousands of stories of people who have endured suffering and overcome obstacles, especially in war-torn countries.

Having been a witness to stories of torture at war zones, Jolie has also testified to the UN Security Council about rapes that have taken place in war zones. She recently travelled to Burkina Faso and Yemen with the UNHCR to meet the refugees in the region in person. 

The joint statement revealed that Jolie will now focus on the same causes separately. Stating that she will continue to do everything in her power in the coming years to support the displaced and the refugees, Jolie announced that it was time to work in a different setup after twenty years. "I feel it's time to work differently, engage directly with local organisations and with refugees and directly support their advocacy.”

Filippo Grandi, The UN High Commissioner for Refugees stated that he appreciated Jolie's decision to move forward and adopt a more inclusive role in engaging with the case of humanity separately. "I understand that the cause of refugees will always be close to her and I am sure she will bring the same attention to a broader humanitarian portfolio in all capacities,' he said.