The High Commissioner
The High Commissioner
Filippo Grandi became the 11th United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on 1 January 2016.
Before being elected High Commissioner, Grandi was engaged in international cooperation for over 30 years, focusing on refugee and humanitarian work.
He served as Commissioner-General of the UN Agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, from 2010 to 2014, after having been the organization’s Deputy Commissioner-General since 2005.
Grandi previously served as Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan, following a long career first with NGOs, and later with UNHCR in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and at the organization’s Geneva headquarters.
Born in Milan in 1957, Grandi holds a degree in modern history from the State University in Milan, a BA in Philosophy from the Gregorian University in Rome, as well as an honorary Doctorate from the University of Coventry.
“I was deeply touched by how the refugees keep their dignity and kindness." Yao Chen has worked with UNHCR since 2010.
In 1997, the UNHCR office in Beijing became a Regional Office covering Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
UNHCR is governed by the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The UNHCR Sub-Office Hong Kong (“SOHK”) reports to the Office in Beijing and covers both the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly.
