Angelina Jolie extends term as ambassador for UN refugee agency

Actress Angelina Jolie of the United States has signed on for another two years as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the agency reported today.

Ms. Jolie was appointed in August 2001 and has met with refugees in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Balkans and the North Caucasus in an attempt to draw public attention to the problems of displaced persons.

The actress is donating profits from previews of her new movie, “Beyond Borders,” to UNHCR’s refugee programmes, with some $100,000 being raised to date, the agency said.

“I’m delighted Angelina Jolie has decided to spend more time with UNHCR,” said High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers. “She has done so much to bring visibility and public awareness to refugees over the last two years.”

Ms. Jolie will receive the UN Correspondents Association’s first Sergio Vieira de Mello Citizen of the World Award, named in honour of the UN diplomat killed 19 August in the terrorist bombing of UN headquarters in Iraq. The citation praises her efforts “to bring public attention to the plight of refugees across the globe, so that the world community will take action to help them.”