Angelina Jolie steps down from UNHCR after 20 years

Angelina Jolie, the Hollywood superstar, has declared that she is leaving her role as the special envoy of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) after working with the agency for 20 years, Agence France-Presse reported.

During her work with the UN's refugee agency, Jolie performed more than 60 field missions, bringing the world's attention to millions of people's plight after getting displaced from their homes.

Jolie, the 47-year-old actress, said in a statement that after 20 years of working with the UN, she feels that the time has arrived to step down and work differently. She wants to engage directly with refugees and local organisations and support their advocacy for solutions.

She said that she would continue everything in her power in the coming years to support the displaced.

UNHCR called her one of the most influential proponents of refugee rights.

UNHCR called the Oscar-winning actress one of the most influential proponents of refugee rights. She had been working with the agency since 2001 and became a special envoy in 2012.

The agency said that after her role was expanded, she built awareness and called for urgent solutions for those forced to flee. She has "worked tirelessly... to bear witness to stories of suffering as well as hope and resilience", AFP quoted the agency.

She had recently travelled to Yemen and Burkina Faso, which are the most underfunded emergencies among displaced people, UNHCR said and added that the agency is grateful for her two decades of service, her commitment and the difference she had made in refugees' life.