CONFIDENTIAL
Extract from decision taken by the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme at its twenty-ninth session 1/
(9-17 October 1978)
D
AI
The Executive Committee,
Having recorded its concern about the growing number of refugees in South East Asia, and recognizing the difficulties encountered by countries of first refuge particularly since current resettlement programmes did not provide sufficient places for the numbers involved,
(a) Undertook to continue to support the High Commissioner's efforts to draw the attention of the international community to the increasing magnitude of the problem, the human suffering involved and the burden on countries of first refuge;
(b) Urged all concerned to give full consideration to means of resolving this problem by giving appropriate assistance for programmes in countries of first refuge and by intensifying action to promote resettlement of the refugees in a wider range of countries;
(c) Welcomed the intention of the High Commissioner to call well-organized and substantive consultations on the above matters with all interested governments, and noted that he intended to call the first such consultation before the end of 1978.
E
મા
The Executive Committee,
Having recalled the obligation of ships to rescue persons in distress at sea, a practice established by customary international law and embodied in international agreements, and having recognized that while large numbers of refugees had been so rescued, some ships had continued to refuse to rescue those in distress on the high seas;
1
(a) Commended the High Commissioner for his efforts on behalf of
refugees at sea;
(b) Further commended the masters and owners of ships who had acted
in accordance with the humane traditions of the maritime community and the States that had offered temporary or permanent asylum to refugees rescued at sea;
(c) Called on all States to instruct ships flying their flags to rescue refugees in distress at sea and on all coastal States to provide at least temporary asylum to refugees coming to their shores as a first port of call, or otherwise in grave jeopardy;
See Report on twenty-ninth session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, document A/AC.96/559, paragraph 38, pages 10 and 11.
CONFIDENTIAL