The United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is
an impartial, non-political humanitarian organisation mandated
by the United Nations to lead and co-ordinate international
action for the world-wide protection of refugees and the
resolution of refugee problems. With headquarters in Geneva,
Switzerland, and branch offices in 116 countries, UNHCR
has two key and closely related aims: to protect refugees
and to seek ways to help them restart their lives. Click
here for
UNHCR Headquarters website.
In Canberra, the Regional
Office for Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and
the South Pacific provides legal, resettlement
and information services:
The Legal
Protection Unit liaises
with governments in the region on refugee and asylum policy.
It provides training
for officials
working with refugees and advises authorities on best international
standards in respect to legislation, policy and procedures.
UNHCR also monitors the application of the Refugee Convention
in the region and intervenes in individual cases when they
raise important issues of principle, which set standards
for the wider protection of refugees.
The Resettlement section
works closely with the Australian and New Zealand immigration
authorities on the composition
of their quotas for resettled refugees and assists in
the submission of individual cases.
The Public
Information Unit raises awareness about UNHCR's work
and refugee issues amongst parliamentarians, schools,
the media and the general public. It is the first point
of contact for media in the region and can provide
the latest
information on UNHCR's work world-wide. The Regional
Office Canberra also has a wide range of educational
resources
and display materials for teachers, community groups
and the
general public.
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