On 14 December, UNHCR celebrated its 60th birthday, kicking off a year of key anniversaries. In 2011, the refugee agency marks the 60th anniversary of the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (July 28) and the 50th anniversary of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (August 30). We also plan a special celebration on October 10 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the late Norwegian polar explorer, diplomat and politician Fridtjof Nansen, who was the first League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The highlight of this year of commemorations will be a ministerial-level meeting of all Member States of the United Nations in Geneva on December 7-8. This important gathering will also give states the opportunity to formalize their accession to the relevant conventions. States and other actors will also be able to make concrete pledges of commitment to address specific forced displacement and/or statelessness issues, as well as broader, forward-looking recommendations.