60 years 60 lives

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In 2011, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is commemorating its 60th anniversary and a history inextricably linked to that of Europe following World War II.

Today, millions of European citizens are either refugees or trace their roots to refugee parents or grandparents. The project 60 Years - 60 Lives reminds us all of this noble European principle of hospitality. UNHCR and the renowned photo agency Magnum introduce us to 60 persons who have made new lives in exile in the 27 EU Member States as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland in those six decades. They came from Europe, from Asia, Africa and America, but they have one thing in common: European countries gave them a chance to rebuild their lives in peace and freedom.

Six of the portraits, one per decade, were realised by Magnum photographers Antoine D'Agata and Moises Saman and give us deeper insight into the lives of these (former) refugees. The photographers spent two to three days with each of them to understand their environment and their way of life.

The other 54 portraits have been provided by refugees themselves. Each tells us their story, condensed into one detail: the violin brought from home, their first document as a refugee, a family photo...

When UNHCR was founded 60 years ago, refugee protection seemed a purely European project. The office was tasked to find solutions for millions of Europeans uprooted by World War II and the ensuing reorganisation of Europe. Even the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was initially just valid for European refugees of the post war period. Only the 1967 Protocol changed it into a global tool.

For decades, Europe kept not only receiving but also producing refugees, originating from the communist states and the Balkans as well as from today?s EU Member States such as Spain, Portugal or Greece.

Today the situation has radically changed. The European Union is the largest association of democratic states in history and its Member States are living through the longest peaceful period ever experienced by the peoples of Europe.

Not all nations are that lucky. So European countries remain a safe haven to many who have no other choice but to flee persecution. It is a tradition to be proud of and 60 Years - 60 Lives pays tribute to the humanitarian achievements of the continent where the concept of human rights was invented.