Geneva, Switzerland – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is officially honoring Ahmed Shehata as an Eminent Advocate for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Eminent Advocates help to increase public awareness of the refugee cause and UNHCR’s work.
This honor, bestowed during a ceremony on the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, recognizes Shehata’s longstanding and ongoing support for people forced to flee around the world, at a critical time when displacement is rising, and vulnerabilities are increasing.
“UNHCR is honored to recognize Ahmed Shehata as an Eminent Advocate. Over several years, Mr. Shehata has demonstrated a strong commitment to advocating for refugees both in his personal capacity and as CEO of Islamic Relief USA,” said Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
“Shehata is an essential voice promoting and mobilizing support for refugees around the world.”
Today, more than 122 million people are displaced globally. With a shortage of funding, needs are growing rapidly, and more voices are needed to amplify the refugee cause.
“The plight of refugees and displaced people around the globe is too big for the world community to ignore,” Shehata said. “Their struggles are overwhelming, and we must do everything in our power to provide them with the basic resources and tools needed to live a self-sustainable, dignified life. I am honored to be named as an eminent advocate for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. I look forward to raising awareness, generating support, and providing solutions that can improve the lives and conditions of refugees in increasingly complex environments.”
As an eminent advocate, Shehata will help highlight UNHCR’s work on aiding displaced people through advocacy campaigns, operational visits, and fundraising. For several years, Shehata served as Director of Fund Development at Islamic Relief USA before being appointed CEO for the organization.
The recognition builds on a strong relationship that Islamic Relief USA and UNHCR national partner, USA for UNHCR, have developed over the last few years.
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About Islamic Relief USA Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to provide relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. Its programs benefit millions of people each year in more than 40 countries around the world, including in the United States. Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
About UNHCR The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is an organization dedicated to saving lives, ensuring rights, and guaranteeing a dignified future for people who have been forced to leave their homes and communities due to war, climate disasters, armed conflict, persecution, or serious human rights violations. Present in 137 countries, UNHCR works with national and local authorities, civil society organizations, and the private sector to ensure that all refugees, internally displaced persons, and stateless persons find safety and support to rebuild their lives.
About USA for UNHCR USA for UNHCR protects and supports refugees by mobilizing resources, elevating awareness, and driving action through a network of engaged supporters. Established by concerned American citizens, USA for UNHCR is a non-profit organization that strives to meet the unmet needs of the more than 120 million children, women and men who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, violence or persecution. As the only organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds in the U.S. for the UN Refugee Agency, USA for UNHCR has raised more than $700 million in cash and gift in kind revenue to help refugees in the past five years. For more information, visit UNrefugees.org.