is regulated by articles 17 to 24 of the Convention. While the standards defined in these articles are widely applied, a number of States still maintain reservations to one or more of these articles. Some progress towards the attainment of these standards, has also been achieved amongst States which are not parties to these instruments.
35. During the reporting period, the situation of refugees in certain areas as regards employment has not been favourable due to adverse economic conditions. It should, however, be noted that in countries in which the legal situation of refugees as regards employment is subject to restrictions, refugees have in practice been able to take up employment. The absence of a legal right to work in a large number of countries has, nevertheless, continued to be a matter of concern to the High Commissioner. In the traditional countries of immigration, refugees normally have the same right as other immigrants, and in many countries in Europe the position of refugees as regards employment has continued to be favourable.
Travel and identity documents
36. For a refugee the possibility of travelling outside his country of residence (e.g. for study purposes or to take up employment) is of particular importance. The question of the issue of refugce-travel documents pursuant to article 23 of the 1951 Convention was considered by the Executive Committee at its twenty- ninth session. In its relevant conclusion, 16/ the Executive Committee inter alia drew attention to the importance of travel documents for refugees for travel outside their country of residence and for resettlement in other countries, and urged States parties to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol to issue such documents to all refugees lawfully staying in their territory who wished to travel. The Executive Committee also recommended that Convention travel documents should have a wide validity, both geographically and in time, and, in accordance with paragraph 15 of the schedule to the Convention, should normally have a return clause with the same period of validity as that of the travel document itself.
37. As regards applications for extension of validity or renewal of travel documents, the Executive Committee recommended that such applications should, if possible, be dealt with by or through diplomatic or consular representatives in order to avoid the hardship of a refugee being obliged to return to the issuing country for this purpose, and that the person concerned should be able to secure extension or renewal in this manner also for periods exceeding the six months provided for in paragraph 6(2) of the schedule to the 1951 Convention.
38. As regards States that are not parties to the 1951 Convention or the 1967 Protocol, the Executive Committee expressed the hope that they would issue to refugees lawfully residing in their territory appropriate travel documents under conditions as similar as possible to those attaching to the issue of 1951 Convention travel documents.
16/ Ibid., para. 60(3).
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