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on industrialised countries not to define such asylum seekers as economic migrants.
5.
The Director said that without durable solutions countries would be inclined to adopt more restrictive practices towards asylum seekers which in turn would lead to a dilution of the fundamental principles of asylum. It was therefore essential that governments must assist in reaching durable solutions:if voluntary repatriation was not possible, other solutions must be found in the region, or if necessary outside the region. In these cases burden sharing was a fundamental principle which must be applied. The principles of international protection must remain sacrosanct and in this UNHCR requires the support of both governments and NGOs. In order to do this, it was becoming more imperitive that states continue to grant asylum and seek for better procedures so as to avoid abuses of the system.
6.
Other major problems facing UNHCR at the moment were physical violence against refugees, the problems of women refugees, kidnapping of refugees and the force recruitment of refugees into political/military organisations operating in refugee camps. Furthermore, there have been increased
cases of refoulement.
7.
The Director defined the division of responsibility for international protection within UNHCR as follows: the Regional Offices were responsible for the day-to-day aspects of protection where as HQ was responsible for the preservation of the fundamental principles of international protection.
8.
Australia noted that improvements in transport had led to more movement of people around the world in general and this in turn had led to refugee movements which were not just across borders but involved travel further afield. The reasons for refugee movements continued to be as follows; war, civil disturbance, abuses of human rights, and the search for a better economic life. In some cases compassion was required but in others firmness. Institutions in receiving countries must adjust to take into account the changing nature of refugee movements.
9. Australia could accept the original text of UNHCR on detention but hoped that the final text submitted by the Working Group would be more practical. Protection was
Abuses
not just a theoretical subject but should provide a practical framework for use by refugee authorities. of the systems merely detracted from the sympathy and facilities available for mandate refugees and genuine asylum seekers. In Australia 70-75% of applicants were rejected, the rejection rate in other countries was similar or higher.
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