A few words about… UNHCR UNHCR, the United Nations refugee organization, is mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees, and together with governments to work for the resolution of refugee problems. 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. By assisting refugees to return to their own country voluntarily or to settle in another country, UNHCR also seeks lasting solutions to their plight. UNHCR’s efforts are mandated by the organization’s Statute and guided by the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. Over the years, the UN General Assembly and the UN Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) have expanded UNHCR’s responsibility to include protecting various groups of people not covered by these instruments who are in a variety of other situations of forced displacement resulting from armed violence and conflict. Some of these people are known as “mandate” refugees; others are returnees, stateless persons and, in certain circumstances, internally displaced persons. The organization seeks to reduce situations of forced displacement by encouraging States and other institutions to create conditions that are conducive to the protection of human rights and the peaceful resolution of disputes. In pursuit of the same objective, UNHCR 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, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability or other status. In all of its activities, UNHCR pays particular attention to the specific needs of children and seeks to promote the equal rights of women and girls and vulnerable and/or marginalized groups. 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. UNHCR is committed to the principle of participation, by consulting refugees on decisions that affect their lives, and to mainstreaming age, gender and diversity. 38