uploaded a heartfelt statement on Instagram on Friday to share she was ‘stepping down’ from her role as a refugee agency envoy after 21 years in order to work more closely with those ‘directly affected.’
The actress, 47, penned a message to her followers to open up about her departure, adding that the, ‘UNHCR is full of amazing people.’
The star, who recently traveled to Washington D.C. to discuss victim legislation, also explained that she was ‘dedicated’ to working with refugees ‘for the rest of my life.’
‘Stepping down’: Angelina Jolie, 47, explained in an Instagram post shared on Friday that she would be exiting her U.N. refugee envy role to work more closely with those ‘directly affected by conflict’
The actress uploaded a throwback photo of herself amidst her role as a refugee envoy for the U.N., along with a meaningful message.
‘After over 20 years, I am stepping down today from my work with the UN Refugee Agency,’ she announced. ‘I believe in many things the UN does, particularly the lives it saves through emergency relief.’
Angelina added that the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) has ‘amazing people’ involved who strive to make, ‘a difference to people’s lives every day.’
The star wholeheartedly expressed that, ‘Refugees are the people I admire most in the world and I am dedicated to working with them for the rest of my life.’
Heartfelt message: The actress expressed in a statement on Instagram that, ‘I believe in many things the UN does, particularly the lives it saves through emergency relief’; seen in 2021
Angelina then gave her reasoning for stepping down from her envoy role, explaining that she, ‘will be working now with organizations led by people most directly affected by conflict, that give the greatest voice to them.’
The United Nations refugee agency and the Oscar winner also released a on Friday expressing that the actress will still work, ‘to engage on a broader set of humanitarian and human rights issues.’
Jolie first started working with the U.N. refugee agency in 2001 and was appointed its special envoy in 2012 – she was among the most high-profile of the organization’s ambassadors.
The star ‘carried out more than 60 field missions to bear witness to stories of suffering as well as hope and resilience’, said the U.N, and had most recently traveled to Burkina Faso.