About us

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is an impartial 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. Based in Switzerland, UNHCR has two basic and closely related aims: to protect refugees and to seek ways to help them restart their lives in a normal environment.

In the UK the UNHCR's London office offers both legal and information services:

The Legal Protection Unit liaises with and offers advice to the Government on refugee and asylum policy. It provides training for officials working with refugees and advises the Government on best international standards as well as UNHCR positions in respect to EU legislation and policy. UNHCR intervenes in individual cases when they raise important issues of principle, which set standards for the wider protection of refugees.

The External Affairs unit raises awareness of the importance of UNHCR's work and refugee issues amongst politicians, the media and the general public. It provides the latest information on UNHCR's work world-wide and is the first point of contact for the UK media on global refugee emergencies. The London office also provides briefings on UK and European asylum issues and has a wide range of information packs, educational resources and display materials for teachers, community groups and the general public.

Click here to read our leaflet (pdf)

UNHCR's annual budget for 2007 is $1.31 billion - to care for more than 21 million people worldwide. UNHCR is almost entirely funded by direct, voluntary contributions from governments, non-governmental organisations and individuals. There is also a very limited subsidy from the regular budget of the United Nations, which is used exclusively for administrative costs. Find out more here.