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ITEM 4
STATEMENT IN UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL
PROTECTION BY MR B GOULD
Annex D
I should like to make a few remarks regarding paras 6 and 9 of the Report on International Protection so far as they concern the UK. In para 9 reference is made to the High Commissioner's efforts towards the establishment of a formal procedure for determination of refugee status in countries which are parties to the 1951 Convention and which do not have such a procedure.
It is rightly stated in pera 36 of the UNHCR report to ECOSOC (doc E/1978/75) that "neither the 1951 Convention nor the 1967 Protocol indicate the procedure to be adopted for the determination of refugee status, leaving it to each contracting State to establish the procedure which it considers appropriate". They do not in fact provide for any procedure.
However, my Government recognise that it may well be desirable to have such a procedure for the recognition of refugee status. In the UK there is a procedure, which is administered by the Home Office. The competent authorities are at present reviewing this procedure and, if necessary, will amend it in order to align it with the principles adopted by the Executive Committee at its 28th Session in 1977.
It is proposed in the near future to introduce a formal letter of recognition to be issued to every Convention refugee upon confirmation of that status. (This will bring the UK into conformity with Article 27 of the 1951 Convention). Her Majesty's Government also have under consideration a paper prepared by UNHCR's representative in London and his legal adviser, on revision of existing procedures. Discussions have taken place with the legal adviser and it is expected that action propose as a result of the paper will be discussed with representatives of interested voluntary organisations.
As my colleague, Lord Wells-Pestell, said in Parliament in May, "There is fund of goodwill and a wide measure of common
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