Cate Blanchett Marks 10 Years as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Advocating for Refugees

“Meeting refugees around the world and being entrusted with their personal stories of loss, hope, survival and success is a huge privilege, and the highlight of my work with UNHCR,” Blanchett said.

Academy Award-winning actor and producer Cate Blanchett is marking 10 years as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, after a decade spent advocating for refugees and displaced communities across the globe.

Since her appointment in 2016, Blanchett has become one of UNHCR's most prominent and active supporters, using her international platform to raise awareness about the plight of millions of people forced to flee conflict, persecution, violence, and climate-related disasters.

Throughout her work with UNHCR, Blanchett has travelled extensively to meet displaced communities firsthand, amplify their stories internationally, and advocate for more humane refugee policies and stronger global support systems.

A Decade of Advocacy for Refugees

Over the past 10 years, Blanchett has visited refugee and displacement situations in several countries, including:

• Jordan

• Bangladesh

• Lebanon

• Niger

• South Sudan

• Brazil

During these missions, she met refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people who had fled war, violence, persecution, and environmental crises.

According to UNHCR, these encounters have deeply shaped and strengthened her commitment to refugee advocacy.

"Meeting refugees around the world and being entrusted with their personal stories of loss, hope, survival and success is a huge privilege, and the highlight of my work with UNHCR," Blanchett said.

"My commitment to them is the same today as it was a decade ago: to do what I can to ensure that their stories are heard, so that no one can say: 'we didn't know'."

Using Her Global Platform to Raise Awareness

Blanchett has consistently used her visibility as an internationally recognized actor to draw attention to refugee issues and humanitarian crises.

Her advocacy has included:

• Media interviews

• Public speeches

• International events

• Humanitarian campaigns

• Political engagement

• Support for refugee artisans and creators

One of her visible initiatives has been support for the Blue Ribbon campaign at major awards ceremonies, which raises awareness and solidarity for displaced people.

Last year, Blanchett also gifted Pope Leo a Made51 bracelet created by refugee artisans — an initiative supported by UNHCR that helps displaced craftspeople generate income and preserve cultural traditions.

Advocacy Beyond the Public Spotlight

While many of Blanchett's efforts have been public, UNHCR noted that much of her advocacy work occurs behind the scenes.

According to the agency, she has played an important role in helping raise significant funding and political support for refugee assistance efforts through private meetings with:

• Political leaders

• Business executives

• Philanthropists

• International decision-makers

Her advocacy is informed by years of direct engagement with refugee communities and on-the-ground observations from humanitarian missions.

UNHCR says this long-term involvement has given Blanchett a deep understanding of displacement issues beyond symbolic support.

High-Profile Interventions at International Institutions

Throughout her ambassadorship, Blanchett has made several major public interventions on behalf of refugees and displaced populations.

Addressing the UN Security Council

In 2018, following a visit to Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, Blanchett addressed the United Nations Security Council in New York.

During the speech, she urged world leaders to respond more urgently to the humanitarian crisis affecting Rohingya refugees who had fled violence and persecution in Myanmar.

The address brought significant international attention to the refugee emergency and highlighted the human impact of forced displacement.

Speech at the European Parliament

In 2023, Blanchett delivered a speech before the European Parliament calling for more humane asylum and refugee policies.

Her remarks emphasized the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of displaced people while encouraging governments to adopt more compassionate and sustainable migration approaches.

Opening the Global Refugee Forum

Later in 2023, Blanchett opened the second Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, one of the world's most important international gatherings focused on refugee protection and support.

The forum brings together governments, humanitarian organizations, civil society, and private sector leaders to mobilize commitments and solutions for displaced populations worldwide.

Supporting Refugee Storytelling Through Film

One of Blanchett's most recent initiatives has focused on supporting displaced storytellers and filmmakers within the entertainment industry.

Alongside fellow UNHCR supporters including:

• Ke Huy Quan

• Echo Quan

• Ayman Tamer

• Koji Yanai

• Isaac Kwaku Fokuo

Blanchett helped develop the Displacement Film Fund (DFF).

The initiative aims to:

• Support displaced filmmakers

• Amplify authentic refugee stories

• Increase representation of displacement experiences in cinema

• Provide grants and creative opportunities

The award-winning programme champions storytelling that reflects the realities of forced displacement and migration from the perspectives of those directly affected.

The Displacement Film Fund is expected to announce its next group of grant recipients during the Cannes Film Festival later this month.

Refugee Crisis Remains One of World's Biggest Challenges

UNHCR says Blanchett's advocacy comes at a time when global displacement levels remain at historic highs.

Millions of people worldwide continue to be displaced due to:

• Armed conflict

• Political persecution

• Human rights abuses

• Climate-related disasters

• Economic instability

The agency increasingly relies on high-profile advocates to help maintain public awareness and mobilize international support for humanitarian responses.

UNHCR says Blanchett has played an important role in ensuring refugee issues remain visible to:

• Policymakers

• Donors

• Media organizations

• International institutions

• The broader global public

A Long-Term Commitment to Humanitarian Advocacy

Unlike many celebrity advocacy roles that are short-term or symbolic, UNHCR emphasized that Blanchett's involvement has remained consistent and deeply engaged over an entire decade.

Her work has combined:

• Public advocacy

• Political engagement

• Humanitarian field missions

• Fundraising efforts

• Cultural initiatives

• Support for refugee voices and creators

UNHCR described Blanchett as one of the organization's most visible and committed advocates for displaced people worldwide.

Importance of Refugee Voices and Storytelling

A central theme throughout Blanchett's advocacy has been the importance of ensuring refugees can tell their own stories.

Through both her humanitarian work and support for projects like the Displacement Film Fund, she has consistently emphasized the need for authentic representation and human-centered storytelling.

Supporters say such storytelling helps challenge stereotypes, humanize displacement crises, and encourage greater empathy and policy action.

Continuing Advocacy Amid Global Displacement Crises

As conflicts and humanitarian emergencies continue affecting millions around the world, Blanchett's work with UNHCR remains highly relevant.

The agency says her advocacy continues to help bring urgency and visibility to refugee crises at a time when humanitarian needs are growing rapidly worldwide.

A decade into her role, Blanchett remains one of the most influential voices advocating for displaced people, helping ensure that refugee experiences continue reaching international audiences and decision-makers.