UNHCR announced that the late Senator Kennedy has been awarded the annual Nansen Refugee Award for his accomplishments as a defender of refugee assistance and protection for nearly half a century. Senator Kennedy sponsored more than 70 refugee related measures and was instrumental in helping millions of persecuted people. The late Senator led a congressional effort to help U.S.-affiliated Iraqis, eventually resulting in the Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act being passed in January 2008. The List Project worked with Senator Kennedy and his staff in seeking government action to resettle U.S-affiliated Iraqis and is delighted to see that the Senator’s work on behalf of vulnerable populations has been awarded by UNHCR.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said: “Senator Kennedy stood out as a forceful advocate for those who suddenly found themselves with no voice and no rights. Year after year, conflict after conflict, he put the plight of refugees on the agenda and drove through policies that saved and shaped countless lives.”