World Refugee Day online auction

UNHCR is hoping to boost its funding in an online auction of memorabilia signed by celebrities from around the world to mark World Refugee Day on June 20. The auctioning process started last night on eBay.com and on eBay national web sites, and will lead up to a final live auction at a Paris auction house, where bidders will bid against Internet users for the items on eBay.

Proceeds will go to UNHCR programmes for women across the world. Women represent 50 percent of refugees, displaced and asylum seekers helped by UNHCR world-wide. In addition to carrying out their daily duties, they play an active role in camp life, education and distribution of aid. At the same time, they are the most exposed to violence and abuse.

Two UNHCR tee-shirts and baseball caps signed by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, drawings signed by fashion designers Loris Azzaro, Christian Lacroix and Sonia Rykiel, a tee-shirt signed by Naomi Campbell and a toy model of a Formula One racing car signed by Michael Schumacher feature among the 47 memorabilia.

All these items were posted last night on www.eBay.com, one of the world's largest online auction houses, and are now up for auction at a starting price of 100 Euros. Potential bidders are invited to visit eBay sites and look out for the UNHCR icon that will take them to the list and photos of items on sale.