Office International Nansen pour les Réfugiés | |
 Fridtjof Nansen as theLeague of Nations' high commissioner for prisoners of war and refugees, during a stay inSofia, where he discussed problems regarding the exchange ofprisoners of war and refugees. | |
| Formation | 1930; 95 years ago (1930) |
|---|---|
| Founder | League of Nations |
| Dissolved | 1939; 86 years ago (1939) |
| Type | Organization |
| Purpose | In charge of refugees from war areas |
TheNansen International Office for Refugees (French:Office International Nansen pour les Réfugiés) was an organization established in 1930 by theLeague of Nations and named afterFridtjof Nansen, soon after his death, which was internationally in charge ofrefugees from war areas between 1930 and 1939. It is noted for developing theNansen passport which allowedstateless people to travel between countries. It received theNobel Peace Prize in 1938.[1][2]
TheOffice International Nansen pour les Réfugiés was established in 1930 by the League of Nations, shortly after the death of its name patron Fridtjof Nansen to continue his successful work in international aid for refugee. It thus continued the organization in Geneva, Switzerland, founded by Nansen in 1921.[1] The League also provided the administrative expenses for the Nansen Office though only for fees charged for the Nansen passport since its revenues for welfare and relief were obtained from private contributions.
The organization was to supply material and political support to refugees. For refugees from theThird Reich or from thecivil war-tornSpain, the Nansen aid was not applicable, though many countries refused to accept the refugees.
In spite of such problems, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the organization in 1938 for its work, but due to its dissolution shortly afterwards, the prize money was received by a newly founded refugee organization of theLeague of Nations. The office was dissolved at the same time as the League dissolved the High Commission (established in 1933) because of the problems surrounding German refugees after the dissolution of the Third Reich.
In 1938, this Office was replaced by the appointment of a High Commissioner for Refugees, a precursor to theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.[3]
The Nansen International Office for Refugees was responsible for the adoption of the 1933 Refugee Convention, which was a modest charter of human rights, by fourteen countries.[4][5][6][7] The Nansen Office was instrumental in finding shelter in specially constructed houses in villages inSyria andLebanon for 40,000Armenians, after the resettlement of another 10,000 inYerevan. The Office also successfully resettledSaar refugees inParaguay after its reintegration into Germany in 1935.[8]
The Nansen International Office for Refugees was awarded the 1938Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to establish the Nansen passports.[9][10]
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