TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 196

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Mr. Chairman, it is the protection function of UNHCR that gives our work its essential character and uniqueness. All else flows from this. There can

be no emergency assistance for refugees, still less durable solutions, unless we first protect life, save refugees from the perils of refoulement, the perils of the high seas, arbitrary detention and punishment. No function of our Office will therefore be more central to my concern: unis Office stands for the rights of the refugee, the right above all to humane treatment and human dignity.

In this, I view the interest and support of the Executive Committee as crucial. I am most happy, therefore, that the third meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Whole on International Protection, which met last Friday, permitted a clarification of certain basic problems relating, particularly, to the status of refugees and travel facilities for them. I have already learned that the international protection of refugees is a duty without working hours. It is a duty without end. It requires the most continuous vigilance by UNHCR.

Our efforts in this field have continued to develop along two inter-related

lines. First, to increase accession to international legal instruments and, more generally, to develop "refugée law"; second, to intervene directly on behalf of individuals or groups.

In accordance with the wishes of the Executive Committee, I have personally

approached in writing, a large number of Governments to accede to our basic instruments, namely the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol. There are now 76 ·

States parties to them. Two others have recently deposited their instruments of accession, but technical formalities are yet to be completed. Regrettably, there are still geographic areas where accession is minimal, even though, within these areas, there are States confronted with major refugee problems."

As nembers of the Committee are aware accession by itself is not enough. Actual implementation in municipal law of the Convention and Protocol is essential. Here, the situation varies greatly from country to country. It will remain a major task for UNHCR in co-operation with Contracting States, to ensure that implementation matches cbligations under our instruments.