UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassadors are, along with High Commissioner António Guterres, the public faces of the UN refugee agency. There are not many of them, but they help bring UNHCR to every corner of the world through their celebrity, popularity, influence and hard work.

Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani and American actress Angelina Jolie, who has visited more than 20 countries since being appointed a Goodwill Ambassador in 2001, have a truly global reach. Others have a loyal and strong national and regional following, like Turkish singer Muazzez Ersoy, Spanish TV presenter Jesus Vazquez, Argentinian soap star Osvaldo Laport and Julien Clerc of France.

Greek musician George Dalaras and Egyptian stage and screen star Adel Imam straddle the international and national arenas, while acclaimed soprano Barbara Hendricks brings enormous influence and experience as UNHCR's only Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador.

Most UN humanitarian agencies have Goodwill Ambassadors and the basic requirement for this function is a real desire to help people in need. UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassadors have all either worked with UNHCR or shown a keen interested in refugee issues before taking up the appointment. They must be approved by the High Commissioner before being formally appointed by the UN Secretary-General. They generally sign a contract for a certain period of years.

Past UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors include actors Richard Burton and James Mason, Italian screen legend Sophia Loren, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, and musician Riccardo Muti.