/AC 579 age
evelopments in regard to international protection at the regional level
5.
Experience has shown that the High Commissioner's efforts in the field of nternational protection may be greatly assisted by action at the regional level. uch action takon either by intergovernmental or non-governmental organizations or odies can be especially valuable in that it takes duc account of the specific roblems and difficulties existing in the particular region concerned.
5. In view of recent developments in Asia, the problem of the international rotection of refugees in that region has assumed particular significance and urgency. urrent problems relating to the international protection of refugees and displaced ersons in Asia wore reviewed by a Round Table of Asian Experts which met in Manila, hilippines from 14 to 18 April 1980 and which was attended by exports from countries ithin the Asian region, including those most directly concerned with the refugee roblem.
7.
The Round Table adopted the Manila Declaration on the International Protection Refugees and Displaced Persons in Asia which, inter alia, stresses the fundamental 1portance of the principles of asylum and non-refoulement and calls upon States of le Asian region to consider seriously accession to the 1951 Convention and
67 Protocol. The Round Table also "recognized that while international solidarity id co-operation should not be a precondition for compliance with basic humanitarian inciples, they are indispensible for satisfactorily resolving problems of refugees id displaced persons in situations of large-scale influx".
}.
The Round Table also considered the problem of pirate attacks to which reference. s been made above and adopted the Manila Declaration on Pirate Attacks on Refugees id Displaced Persons. In this Declaration the Round Table, inter alia,
"Urges States within whose waters pirato attacks occur to take immediately all measures necessary to suppress completely such attacks, to assist persons who are victims thereof and to prosecute those responsible". 1/
The Committee has already been informed of the work of the Conference on the tuation of Refugees in Africa held in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania from to 17 May 1979. 2 In the Note on International Protection submitted to the mmittee at its thirtieth session, the High Commissioner expressed the view that e work of the Conference would constitute an important factor in improving the legal tuation of refugees in Africa and would help further to strengthen the principles tablished for the treatment of refugees at the universal level.
The Office
in close contact with the Secretariat of the Organization of African Unity, which s entrusted by the Arusha Conference with the task of ensuring that its commendations are effectively implemented. A joint OAU/UNHCR Working Group has cently been established and is proceeding with the task of reviewing on a regular sis the process of implementation of the Arusha recommendations.
1 Manila Declaration on Pirate Attacks on Refugees and Displaced Persons,
(A/AC.96/INF.162).
2/ A/AC.96/INT.158.
3 A/AC.96/567, para.10.