Safeguarding Individuals
© UNHCR/A. Zavallis
Every human being deserves a life free from persecution and discrimination.
But displacement can affect anyone. Hundreds of thousands of people are forced to flee their homes every day – young and old, sick and healthy, sons and daughters.
At UNHCR, it is our job to protect and safeguard their rights. We work hard to help millions of people all over the world rebuild broken lives and restore shattered communities.
Children: Over half the world’s refugee population is made up of children.
Minorities and Indigenous Peoples: In many parts of the world, minorities and indigenous persons can be victims of severe human rights violations.
Women: Women can be especially vulnerable to abuse in mass displacement situations.
Youth: Having fled war or persecution, displaced youth are thrust into an uncertain world.
LGBTIQ+ persons: We work to protect LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers everywhere.
Men: Men and boys can find themselves neglected or dismissed during times of displacement.
Persons with disabilities: Persons with disabilities remain largely invisible or forgotten in their uprooted communities.
Older persons: During times of displacement, older persons have urgent rights and needs.
Policies and Resources:
- Tip sheets on applying the UNHCR Age, Gender and Diversity Policy
- AGD Promising Practices and Case Studies
- AGD reports from previous years
- UNHCR Guidance on Racism and Xenophobia (Also available in Spanish)
Training resources: intersectionality and the AGD approach
Training materials to introduce and explain the concepts of 'Intersectionality' and the UNHCR 'Age, Gender and Diversity' framework and policy, jointly developed by UNHCR and the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
Learn more about Age, Gender and Diversity
For decades UNHCR has applied an age, gender and diversity (AGD) approach to ensure equality in decision making and the provision of services, and to create meaningful partnerships.
Age, Gender and Diversity Accountability Report 2021
An analysis of data on the implementation of the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) Policy and the progress made in 2021.
UNHCR Policy on Age, Gender and Diversity (2018)
This policy consolidates and reaffirms UNHCR's commitment to the Age, Gender and Diversity approach.
Age, Gender, and Diversity inclusive pledges and the Global Compact for Refugees
The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) directly references an Age, Gender and Diversity approach to reach its four objectives. Read the excerpt on the GCR website.