Jolie given Freedom Award for her work for refugees

NEW YORK: Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie's efforts to improve the lot of the refugees has won her the prestigious 'Freedom Award' from the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

She shared the award with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in recognition of their contribution to the cause of refugees. She is the goodwill ambassador for UNHCR.

"The Freedom Award is a symbol that we will only be able to fully enjoy our freedom when everyone else is able to enjoy theirs," said High Commissioner Antsnio Guterres at a ceremony in New York.

Although unable to attend the award presentation ceremony, Jolie, in a video message, hailed the close partnership between UNHCR and the International Rescue Committee.

People of concern to UNHCR include not only refugees, but related groups such as asylum-seekers, refugee returnees, stateless people and some of the estimated 25 million people who are displaced within their own countries, known as internally displaced persons (IDP).

Since 2006, the number of refugees worldwide has been increasing and now stands at some 10 million, UNHCR said, attributing the rise largely to the crisis in Iraq.

This was the second time that the UN agency has been honoured by the International Rescue Committee for its work protecting refugees. In 1995, the then High Commissioner Sadako Ogata received the Freedom Award.