United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees- the Refugee Agency is mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the world-wide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems.

UNHCR was established on December 14, 1950 by the U.N. General assembly and began its work on January 1, the following year. The agency helps the world's uprooted peoples by providing them with basic necessities such as shelter, food, water and medicine in emergencies and seeking long term solutions, including voluntary return to their homes or beginning afresh in new countries. In more than five decades, the agency has helped an estimated 50 million people restart their lives. Today, a staff of around 5,000 people in more than 120 countries continues to help an estimated 22 million people.

UNHCR's primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, and to return home voluntarily.

By assisting refugees to return to their own country or to settle in another country, UNHCR also seeks lasting solutions to their plight.

International refugee law provides an essential framework of principles for UNHCR's humanitarian activities.

UNHCR's Executive Committee and the UN General Assembly have also authorized the organization's involvement with other groups. These include people who are stateless or whose nationality is disputed and, in certain circumstances, internally displaced persons.

UNHCR seeks to reduce situations of forced displacement by encouraging states and other institutions to create conditions which are conducive to the protection of human rights and the peaceful resolution of disputes. In pursuit of the same objective, UNHCR actively seeks to consolidate the reintegration of returning refugees in their country of origin, thereby averting the recurrence of refugee-producing situations.

UNHCR offers protection and assistance to refugees and others in an impartial manner, on the basis of their need and irrespective of their race, religion, political opinion or gender. In all of its activities, UNHCR pays particular attention to the needs of children and seeks to promote the equal rights of women and girls.

In its efforts to protect refugees and to promote solutions to their problems, UNHCR works in partnership with governments, regional organizations, international and non-governmental organizations.

By virtue of its activities on behalf of refugees and displaced people, UNHCR also promotes the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter: maintaining international peace and security; developing friendly relations among nations; and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

For further information please see www.unhcr.ch.

Relationship between UNHCR and IFMSA

Contacts

Present contacts between UNHCR and IFMSA:

• In October 2001 IFMSA established a liaison officer-post to UNHCR. The IFMSA Liaison Officer with UNHCR is Liv Lyngå;. Liv Lyngå is in contact with Mrs Kerrigan, NGO-office and Mr Malé, Senior Health Advisor.

Previous contacts between UNHCR and IFMSA:

• Amer Karam IFMSA Director for Refugees and Peace 1999-2000 has been in contact with Mr Torbjornssen, NGO coordinator.
• Marieke van den Ham IFMSA Director for Refugees and Peace 2000-2001 was in contact with with Mr Torbjornssen, NGO coordinator, and Mr Malé, Senior Health Advisor.
• Mr Malé, Senior Health Advisor came to hold a lecture at the workshop 'Refugee Health' held during the ITCMS 2001.
  

Ongoing projects and sources of collaboration

• Outcomes from the Refugee Health - workshop.
  

Examples of how NMOs might utilise the Liaison Officer to UNHCR

The liaison officer can help initiate contacts with UNHCR:

• When arranging refugee-related international/regional/national/local trainings or workshops.
• When arranging refugee-related international/regional/national/local workshops or projects.

Future plans for collaboration

• Presently a project in the Afghan region is planned.