World Refugee Day 2003: Switzerland
World Refugee Day, 20 June 2003
© © UNHCR/S.Hopper
The classical music concert at UNHCR's headquarters raised 200,000 Swiss francs for refugee youth in Africa. © UNHCR/S.Hopper
UNHCR opened the doors to its headquarters in Geneva for a classical music concert that raised 200,000 Swiss francs for educational projects in Sierra Leone's Largo camp and Tanzania's Kasulu camp.
More than 500 people were treated to performances by two philharmonic orchestras and renowned Swiss mezzo-soprano Brigitte Balleys, as well as a live webcam/Internet link with Swiss aid workers in Largo camp.
© UNHCR/S.Hopper
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Adel Imam (with interpreter) at the UNHCR concert.
The event was graced by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Adel Imam, and unfolded against the backdrop of an art exhibition by Cambodian artist Kosal. A painting by Kosal was chosen as the frontispiece for publicity materials for this year's World Refugee Day.
Other celebrations included a June 18 Concert for Peace and Reconciliation, featuring refugee bands from Burundi, Rwanda and Congo Brazzaville, held during a day of special events celebrating Geneva's new Stade de la Praille.
Across Switzerland and Liechtenstein, more than 50 public buildings as well as Geneva's celebrated fountain, the Jet d'Eau, were lit up in UN blue.
Learn about our loyal ambassadors.
2013 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award
UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres presented Sister Angélique Namaika of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the prestigious Nansen Refugee Award at a gala ceremony in Geneva on Monday night.
Sister Angélique, through her Centre for Reintegration and Development, has helped transform the lives of more than 2,000 women and girls who had been forced from their homes and abused by fighters of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) or other armed groups. Many of those she helps suffered abduction, forced labour, beatings, murder, rape or other human rights abuses.
The Roman Catholic nun helps survivors to heal by offering them the chance to learn a trade, start a small business or go to school. Testimonies from these women show the remarkable effect she has had on helping turn around their lives, with many affectionately calling her "mother."
The Award ceremony featured a keynote speech from best-selling author Paulo Coelho and musical performances by singer-songwriter Dido, Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna and Grammy-nominated Malian musicians, Amadou and Mariam.
2013 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award
Nansen Refugee Award Presentation Ceremony
More than 400 people attended the annual presentation in Geneva in October 1, 2012 of UNHCR's Nansen Refugee Award. This year's inspirational winner from Somalia, Hawa Aden Mohamed, was unable to attend for health reasons, but she sent a video message. In the former refugee's absence, UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres presented the award and Nansen medal to her sister, Shukri Aden Mohamed.
The 63-year-old humanitarian, educator and women's rights advocate, widely known as "Mama" Hawa, was honoured for her extraordinary service - under extremely difficult conditions - on behalf of refugees and the internally displaced, mainly women and girls but also including boys.
Above all she has been recognized for her work - as founder and director of the Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development in Somalia's Puntland region - in helping to empower thousands of displaced Somali women and girls, many of whom are victims of rape. The centre provides secondary education as well as life skills training.
The packed event also included an address by Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, co-winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, and a video tribute to Mama Hawa as well as performances from UNHCR Honorary Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador and classical singer, Barbara Hendricks, and up and coming Swiss musician Bastian Baker.
Nansen Refugee Award Presentation Ceremony
Switzerland: Kuwait Donates US$ 100 Million to the Syria Crisis
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees welcomes the State of Kuwait's contribution of US$ 100 million to support UNHCR operations aiding Syrians.
UNHCR Geneva: Executive Committee 2012
Refugee agency chief António Guterres opens annual ExCom meeting with warning that UNHCR being stretched by multiplication of new refugee crises.
Egyptian actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Adel Imam recently visited Iraqi refugees in Syria. Imam praised the Syrian government for its hospitality and for opening its schools to Iraqi students.
| 
| 
| 
