The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR also known as the UN Refugee Agency) was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide.
States Parties are required to cooperate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which is mandated by the General Assembly to supervise implementation of the Convention and Protocol. UNHCR encourages states to accept and adhere to the Convention and operates programs to promote fulfillment of Convention-based goals for refugee protection. State Parties undertake to provide the UN with information and statistical data.
Although UNHCR predated the Convention, it has been mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to seek international protection and permanent solutions for refugees. It also has the responsibility to supervise the implementation of the Convention by States Parties. States Parties are required to cooperate with UNHCR, and provide relevant information and statistical data. UNHCR’s role complements that of States, contributing to the protection of refugees by:
- Promoting accession to, and implementation of, refugee conventions and laws;
- Ensuring that refugees are treated in accordance with internationally recognized legal standards;
- Ensuring that refugees are granted asylum and are not forcibly returned to the countries from which they have fled;
- Promoting appropriate procedures to determine whether or not a person is a refugee according to the Convention definition and/or to other definitions found in regional conventions; and
- Seeking durable solutions for refugees.
The UNHCR maintains an active presence in Canada and also includes information on Canada on its North American subregional profile,