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It would provide concrete evidence of the concern of the international community that applications for asylum and for the grant of refugee status be treated with all the seriousness that they deserve, and that situations in which refugees are exposed to danger because their claims to refugee status have not been properly examined should be avoided. The High Commissioner trusts that he will be in a position to report further progress in this matter in the near future_1/.
8.
At a time when the basic rights of refugees are threatened or have been seriously disregarded in different areas of the world, there is a need for the international community to reaffirm the standards of treatment defined in the basic international refugee instruments. The High Commissioner, with the support of the Executive Committee, has continued to encourage further accessions to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees. While the number of States parties to the Convention and/or the Protocol has now roached 78, the rate of progress is still not sufficient and, in various parts of the world where there are major refugee problems, refugees are still without the basic minimum protection afforded by these instruments. In view of recent developments, the High Commissioner considers that further accessions to the Convention and to the Protocol by a substantial number of States on different continents are now required as a matter of extreme urgency.
Progress and positive trends.
9. To various negative developments to which reference has been made above should not, of course, overshadow a number of positive and more encouraging trends in the field of international protection. In two specific refugee situations. in Africa and Asia, voluntary repatriation - the most desirable solution to rofugee problems has taken place on a large scale. Many States have continued to follow liberal and humanitarian practices in granting temporary and durable asylum and to attach particular importance to the observance of the principle of non-refoulement. A number of States are now giving active consideration to the establishment of procedures for determining refugee status. As regards the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol, a further two States have acceded since the Committee's twenty-ninth session, and accession is under active consideration by a number of other States.
10. In carrying out his international protection tasks, the High Commissioner has received considerable encouragement from the action taken by Governments at the regional level. In this respect, the Conference on the Situation of Refugees in Africa, held in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 7 to 17 May 1979, was of outstanding importance. The Conference reaffirmed a number of fundamental principles concerning the treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers, notably the principle of non-refoulement, the principle of the granting of temporary asylum and the principle of international solidarity and "burdon-sharing" in relation to countrics of first asylum. The Conference also recognized the importance of procedures for determining refugee status or other appropriate arrangements for identifying refugees, and also the need to facilitate the movement of refugees, especially for the purpose of study, professional training or resettlement.
1/ For a description of the present situation see Hote on procedures for the dotermination of refugee status under international instruments, L/1C.96/INF.152 and A/AC.96/INF.152/Add.1