What is the primary responsibility of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)?

The primary responsibility of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is to protect and support refugees. Established in 1950, the UNHCR's main mandate is to ensure that the rights of refugees are upheld and to provide them with essential support, including shelter, food, medical care, and education. The organization works to facilitate durable solutions for refugees, which can involve resettlement to another country, local integration, or voluntary repatriation to their home country when it is safe to do so. This focus on both immediate assistance and long-term solutions underscores the critical role the UNHCR plays in addressing the complex challenges faced by displaced individuals worldwide.

In contrast, monitoring and reporting on human rights violations, promoting global education initiatives, and organizing international peace treaties are responsibilities associated with different entities and organizations within the UN system, specifically other specialized agencies and bodies that focus on those distinct areas of concern.