Newly Engaged Angelina Jolie Gets Major Pre-Wedding Gift From U.N.

Brad Pitt's betrothed is promoted to special envoy after serving more than a decade as a goodwill ambassador for the refugee agency UNHCR

By Peter Gicas Apr 17, 2012 2:09 PMTags
Angelina JolieJason Kempin/Getty Images

As if getting engaged to Brad Pitt wasn't cool enough, Angelina Jolie has now been named a special envoy  for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), it was announced on Tuesday.

The actress, who has served more than a decade as a goodwill ambassador for the organization, will find herself representing the UNHCR at the diplomatic level to governments and diplomats.

"In her new role, she is expected to focus on large-scale crises resulting in the mass displacement of people," UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards said during a news conference in Geneva. "I don't think you need a rocket scientist to see the benefits that she is bringing in terms of the attention that she is getting for the plight of the world's displaced."

Over the last 10 years, Jolie has traveled to various refugee camps around the globe on behalf of the UNHCR, including those in Iraq, Haiti, Syria and Pakistan.

A well-deserved promotion, indeed.