Kat Graham appointed UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
UNHCR announced the appointment of Swiss-born American actor, singer and human rights activist Kat Graham as its newest Goodwill Ambassador.
© UNHCR/Kalpesh Lathigra
“I know that if my grandfather, who was Liberian, had been killed while fleeing for his life, or if my grandmother, who was Jewish and from Russia, had not escaped the Holocaust, I would not be here today.”
Kat Graham’s appointment as Goodwill Ambassador comes after years of collaboration. Graham partnered with UNHCR in 2013 as a High-Profile Supporter by helping bring attention and awareness to refugees around the world. The actor, singer and activist has also visited displaced people in several spots around the world including Jordan, Central America and Ethiopia. Graham has been especially moved by the courage and strength of the women and girls she has encountered.
“I know that if my grandmother, who was Jewish and from Russia, had not escaped the Holocaust, I would not be here today.”
Congratulations to our newest UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador @KatGraham 👏👏👏👏pic.twitter.com/1P3wMbQIYt
— UK for UNHCR (@UNRefugeesUK) December 17, 2020
“I believe our most important works on this earth are what we can do for others. Being named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador is one of the greatest honors of my life. I’m grateful for this opportunity to continue to shine a light on untold stories of refugees and to work to ensure protection and support for displaced persons around the world,” said Graham, who hails from a Liberian and European-Jewish background. Graham’s grandparents were once refugees themselves, making the refugee cause deeply personal for her.
“They were refugees, and I walk with their legacy. During the time of my gandparents, refugees often didn’t have anyone to speak up for them. As a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, I pledge to speak up for the refugees of today,” said Graham.
Graham’s appointment comes at a time when war, conflict and persecution have forced over 80 million people to flee their homes – one per cent of the world’s population – including over 26 million refugees worldwide.
To find out more about Kat Graham’s appointment as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, please visit the UNHCR website.
