Angelina Joliehas spoken out against the the negative treatment of refugees on World Refugee Day.
The activist and actress, 43, who serves as a Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,wrote a powerful op-ed forThe Economistwhere she condemns any nation fighting back against helping the millions of refugees around the world. In it, she appears to be taking aim at President Donald Trump’s administration and their new“zero-tolerance policy”that is separating children from their parents at the U.S. border to Mexico.
“It is not surprising that there is deep public concern: not because people are heartless, but because this is not a sustainable situation,” she writes. “But the answer is not countries adopting harsh unilateral measures that target refugees, and run counter to our values and our responsibilities. That will only inflame the problem.”
Ivor Prickett/UNHCR
The Oscar winner has been fighting for refugees ever since she was announced as a special envoy for the UN HCR in 2012 after first starting as a ambassador in 2001. Though Jolie first focused on Cambodian refugees, she has since advocated for all refugees around the world andvisited a Syrian refugee camp earlier this year.
“A refugee is a man, woman or child at their most vulnerable: forced from their home, living without the protection of their state, and in many cases without the bare means of survival,” she writes. “It is the human condition that tests our belief that all human beings have equal rights and deserve protection.”
“We live in divisive times. But history also shows our ability to unite, overcome a global crisis, and renew our sense of purpose and community with other nations,” she writes. “That is the greatest strength of an open society. We should not leave the debate to those who would exploit public anxiety for political advantage. We are being tested today and our response will be the measure of our humanity.”
To learn more about World Refugee Day,visit the United Nations website.
source: people.com
