by Grace Christovasilis, AWO Greece
UNHCR Greece Rep Ms Maria Clara Martin and Grace Christovasilis, FAWCO UN Team, at an exhibition of archival material documenting the longstanding cooperation between Greece and the UNHRC (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) on October 24, 2024, which is UN Day.
UNHCR Greece Rep Ms Maria Clara Martin and Grace Christovasilis, FAWCO UN Team, at an exhibition of archival material documenting the longstanding cooperation between Greece and the UNHRC (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) on October 24, 2024, which is UN Day.
Did you know?
- Greece was one of the founding members of the UN.
- Greece was one of the 26 countries to sign a Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees in 1951.
- Greece was the location of one of the first UNHCR Offices in 1952.
- The first rapporteur examining UNHCR projects annually was a Greek woman, Lina Tsaldaris.
- The first woman Director at the UNHCR was Greek, Haris Brisimi.
UNHCR Rep in Greece Maria Clara Martin gave an opening speech on the 75-year history of collaboration between the UNHCR and Greece on UN Day 2024. The speech and exhibition highlight the story of this early collaboration. The exhibition shared several moving examples of what can be achieved when the UNHCR, governments, civil society, local communities and the refugees themselves work together for the greater good.
You can read the whole text of Ms Martin’s speech here.
It’s important to keep records of this shared history so that we can learn better each time.