E/1979/95 page 8
"... that refugees too often faced the threat of refoulement, arbitrary detention and the denial of asylum and that, particularly by racist régimes in southern Africa, their security vas imperilled by armed assaults across international borders which the international community has consistently condemned". 15/
Furthermore, in resolution 33/26, adopted at its Thirty-third Session, the General Assembly deplored the fact that refugees often faced the threat of refoulement, arbitrary detention and the denial of asylum and noted the necessity to ensure their basic hunan rights, protection and safety.
32. The abduction of refugees has continued to be of the greatest concern to the High Commissioner during the reporting period. In one country the number of refugees abducted since the beginning of 1977 rose to more than 50. The Office has regularly approached the competent authorities with a view to ascertaining the whereabouts of these and other refugees abducted in recent years. It is to be noted that no further cases of abduction have come to the attention of the Office during the latter part of the period, and that persons who were abducted early in 1978 were subsequently released and resettled elsewhere. In another country, which has admitted large numbers of asylum-seekers, several serious incidents were reported in which persons were subjected to robbery and extortion before being able to contact the local authorities.
Detention
In
33. During 1978 there were numerous instances in which asylum-seekers and refugees were detained in prison or under similar conditions for unduly long periods. the case of asylum seekers, such measures of detention were normally based on their illegal entry or presence in the country, despite the fact that it is frequently impossible for asylum-seekers to enter a country in a regular manner. In the case of refugees already admitted to or residing in the country, detention was often the consequence of an expulsion measure taken on grounds which would not be justified under article 32 of the 1951 Convention. Where the refugees concerned had already resided in the country for considerable periods, the expulsion orders and related measures of detention involved particular hardship. In such cases the High Commissioner has undertaken all possible steps vis-à-vis the authorities in order to obtain the release of the asylum-seekers or refugees concerned. While his efforts in this respect have not always met with success, the High Commissioner is pleased to report that refugees and asylum seekers have been released from detention in a certain number of cases.
Economic and social rights
34. Progress towards the important objectives of obtaining for refugees the right to take up employment and to enjoy social benefits comparable with those normally enjoyed by nationals has continued, despite unfavourable economic conditions in some areas. As regards States parties to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol, the situation of refugees as regards economic and social rights
15/ Ibid., Thirty-third Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/33/12/Add.1), para. 38(A)).
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