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Women's Commission Celebrates 20 Years of Helping Refugee Women and Children with a New Name and Look

Becomes "Women's Refugee Commission" This Week

(New York, NY) -- The Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children announces this week a change that conveys its mission of bringing positive change to the lives of refugees and reflects the momentum of its groundbreaking work. The Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children will now be known as Women's Refugee Commission, with a powerful new logo.

"It's an exciting time for our organization, and we felt that updating our identity with a strong and easily distinguishable new name was absolutely key," said Executive Director Carolyn Makinson. "We have accomplished so much in the past 20 years, and we will continue to help uprooted women and children realize their aspirations and live fuller lives."

Over the course of 2008, staff, board members and an advisory group of "commissioners" strategized about how best to reflect the organization's enduring focus on helping refugees, the internally displaced and asylum-seekers live their lives with dignity. While the organization continues to be focused on women and children refugees, the team determined that a shortened, punchier name was critical for recognition by new audiences, and that an exciting new brand identity was overdue—the last having been completed in 1995.

An innovative design firm in New York developed the new look pro bono, keeping the organization's trademark red. The result is a logo that represents the organization's strength, steady forward movement and its commitment to measuring progress carefully.

Makinson added: "Deep, engaging discussions ensued on this critical decision, leading us to the lean and powerful name: Women's Refugee Commission. Though we have lost the "W" in our old logo, we gained a gorgeous new logo that reflects our vigor and sharp focus. We couldn't be more pleased with the results."

About the Women's Refugee Commission
Since 1989, the Women's Refugee Commission has focused the world's attention on the urgent needs of refugee and displaced women, children and adolescents. Its mission is to improve the lives and defend the rights of refugee women and children, rethinking problems and seeking solutions to issues that make a real difference in their lives. Its research and advocacy leads to life-changing improvements for this vulnerable, yet resilient, population. The Women's Refugee Commission is affiliated with and is legally part of the International Rescue Committee, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It does not receive financial support from the IRC.