UNHCR's primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country, or return home in safety and dignity. 

Sometimes, refugees can neither return nor stay in the place of first refuge. For these vulnerable men, women and children the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR works for a third solution to their plight: resettlement to a third country where they can start afresh.

UNHCR also has a mandate to prevent and reduce statelessness and protect stateless people. In support of its core activities on behalf of refugees, UNHCR's Executive Committee and the UN General Assembly have authorized the UN Refugee Agency to also assist former refugees who have returned home and internally displaced people.

In all of its activities, UNHCR pays particular attention to the needs of vulnerable groups and promotes the equal rights of women and girls.