TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 139

6.

CHAPTER I

INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

A. Introduction

The reporting period has seen some positive trends in the field of international protection. The High Commissioner is, however, gravely concerned by a number of serious developments adversely affecting refugees, which underline the essential importance of the international protection function and of its effective discharge by the Office.

7. On the positive side, the international community's growing humanitarian concern for refugees and displaced persons and its correspondingly increased level of support for UNHCR has enabled the Office's protection activities to attain an unprecedented level. Voluntary repatriation - naturally the most desirable solution to refugee problems has taken place on a large scale in two specific situations in Africa and Asia. Furthermore, there has been a growing realisation of the importance of international solidarity as the necessary framework for the effective exercise of the international protection function.

8. On the other hand, a number of disturbing situations have either arisen or continued. In different areas a climate generally unfavourable to asylum-seekers has been noted and there has been an increasing tendency on the part of certain Governments not to grant refugees asylum otherwise than on a strictly temporary basis. Refugees have also frequently encountered difficulties in obtaining even temporary asylum. Such refusal of temporary asylum has led to serious hardship and even to loss of life in the case of persons having their country of origin in boats in order to seek refuge elsewhere. Loss of life has also occurred through the rejection of asylum seekers by States at their land frontiers.

9. During the period under review there have been a number of cases in which refugees have been returned to their country of origin in violation of the generally accepted principle of non-refoulement. In a number of countries the authorities have disregarded the special situation of refugees and asylum-seelers, and subjected them to unjustified measures of imprisonment and detention. In some cases, the basic rights of refugees have been infringed to the extent of their being subjected to physical violance, abduction and torture. There is little progress to be reported in this regard and it is a matter which continues to be of the utmost concern to the High Commissioner. He wishes to emphasize that the risk of infringement of the basic rights of refugees is increased by the absence, in some countries, of appropriate administrative arrangements for ensuring that refugees are identified as such in order to enable them to enjoy the protection established for their benefit by the international community.