significant staffing and financial resources. The voluntary agencies also give support to UNHCR by raising funds from the private sector for assistance to refu es. These amounted to $5,455,000 during 1977. As regards international protection, closer links have been established with agencies which are active in the field of the protection of human rights. In the context of their general concern for human rights, non-governmental organizations have taken an interest in the development of refugee law. In some countries they have played a vital role in the further development of refugee legislation and in assistance to refugees in overcoming legal difficulties. UNHCR has co-operated closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross in the field of international protection.
259. UNHCR participated in a round table on moving populations, organized by the League of Red Cross Societies at Geneva in March 1978, the first forum for direct consultations between national Red Cross Societies and international agencies dealing with problems of refugees and migrants.
260. UNHCR has co-operated closely with a number of academic and professional institutions concerned with various aspects of the international protection of refugees, notably the Association for the Study of the World Refugee Problem, the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, the International Institute of Human Rights, the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, the International Commission of Jurists and the World Peace through Law Centre in Washington.
261. Nansen Medal Award: In recognition of outstanding work on behalf of the uprooted, the Nansen Medal for 1977 was presented to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society. As an operational partner of UNHCR and in conjunction with governmental authorities and PERKIM (Muslim Welfare Organization of Malaysia), the Malaysian Red Crescent Society has provided material assistance to displaced persons and refugees from Indo-China who have been permitted to stay in Malaysia pending their permanent settlement in other countries.
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