Jolie promoted by UN refugee agency

After a decade of promoting refugee causes around the world, Angelina Jolie herself has been promoted.

The UN refugee agency has elevated the Hollywood star from being a goodwill ambassador to a special envoy, a role that will see her represent the organisation at the diplomatic level to governments and diplomats.

It is the first time the UNHCR has named a special envoy, said spokesman Adrian Edwards. Elsewhere in the global body, such posts are usually reserved for career diplomats or retired politicians.

“Her work does go substantially beyond what we would typically see as being the normal role of a goodwill ambassador,” Edwards said. “I don’t think you need a rocket scientist to see the benefits that she is bringing in terms of the attention that she is getting for the plight of the world’s displaced.”

Jolie has made high-profile visits to refugee camps in Iraq, Haiti, and Pakistan, among other places, over the past 10 years on behalf of the agency.

She has also given large personal donations to the agency, which relies entirely on voluntary contributions from governments, companies and individuals.

The actress/director will not receive any money for her new role. “There is to my knowledge absolutely no connection between any donation of money and this role,” said Edwards.

Jolie’s position will focus on the crises that result in the mass displacement of people, such as in Afghanistan and Somalia. On occasions, she will represent the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres.

“That can mean conveying messages to governments. It can mean conveying messages to other people and partners that we work with,” said Edwards.

UNHCR works to help almost 35m refugees and internally displaced people around the world. It was established to aid millions of Europeans displaced during the Second World War.