CODE 18-77
AWO Ltd.
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Reference.....
Canada agreed with UNHCR's view and regretted that no consensus had been reached after five years of consultation. Canada supported the unquivocal condemnation of such attacks whether they had civilian or military nature. They hoped that the 38th Executive Committee would reach conserus and supported the suggestion that the matter be kept under consideration in the meantime.
38. Canada supported UNHCR's efforts to strengthen the protection for refugee women.
39. France supported the solemn declaration prepared by the Sub-Committee. They were disappointed that there had been no consensus on a text to prohibit military attacks on refugee camps and regretted that the two points had been taken side by side rather than together (the civilian nature of refugee camps and the condemnation of attacks on camps). France supported the draft conclusions on detention. It was important to distinguish between migrants and asylum seekers. France could endorse the conclusions presently on the table.
40. Venezuela spoke about the plight of women and children refugees. They noted, however, that document 680 made no reference to paragraphs (e) and (j) of conclusion 39 adopted by EXCOM last year. These dealt with the importance of considering the needs and problems of refugee women with regard to international protection and detailed sociological information to enable such protection to be provided. Venezuela requested that this matter be included on the agenda of the Sub-Committee next year. Venezuela also regretted the lack of consensus on military attacks on refugee camps. They supported the decision to continue consideration of this matter and stated that it was up to the Chairman how best to proceed with this.
41.
Zambia stated that military attacks on refugee camps were an infringement of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the host country. They regretted the lack of consensus on this issue and stated that EXCOM must continue to consider this matter in order to arrive at principles to prohibit such attacks.
42. The PLO made an extremely long and tedious statement, mostly about the plight of Palestinian refugees and Israeli military attacks on Palestinian camps.
43. Ghana referred to the problem of organised syndicates arranging illegal entry and destruction of travel documents of asylum seekers reaching Europe. Many Europeans were involved in this activity which constituted a new form of slavery. Ghana also stated that attacks on refugee camps were totally unacceptable and UNHCR must take steps to rectify this position.
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