TNAG-1543-FCO40-2107-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 38

possible, not be accommodated with persons detained as common criminals, and shall not be located in areas where their physical safety is endangered;

(g) Recommended that refugees and asylum-seekers who are detained be provided with the opportunity to contact the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or, in the absence of such office, available national refugee assistance agencies;

(h)

Reaffirmed that refugees and asylum-seekers have duties to the country in which they find themselves, which require in particular that they conform to its laws and regulations as well as to measures taken for the maintenance of public order;

(i)

Reaffirmed the fundamental importance of the observance of the principle of non-refoulement and in this context recalled the relevance of Conclusion No. 6 (XXVIII).

Conclusions on military and armed attacks on refugee camps and settlements

129. The Executive Committee,

Recalling the continuous efforts undertaken by the Executive Committee to draft a set of principles or conclusions on the subject of military and armed attacks on refugee camps and settlements,

Commending the Chairman of the Executive Committee and the High Commissioner for their efforts to promote agreement on a draft set of conclusions on this subject,

Regretting that after so much debate it has not been able to arrive at a common position,

Noting that the General Assembly had by consensus adopted resolution 39/140, of which paragraph 3, inter alia, relates to military and armed attacks on refugee camps and settlements,

Gravely concerned that despite the development and further strengthening of established standards for the treatment of refugees, the basic rights of refugees in different areas of the world have continued to be disregarded as evidenced, in particular, by the large number of victims and material damage occasioned by the various military and armed attacks on refugee camps and settlements which continue to occur,

(a) Stressed the urgency and importance of the question of military and armed attacks on refugee camps and settlements being kept under constant review by the Executive Committee with a view to reaching agreement on a set of principles or conclusions in order to reinforce the international protection of refugees;

(b) Requested the Chairman and the High Commissioner to continue consultations on this matter, review developments and submit detailed reports in accordance with their respective mandates on the various aspects of the subject to the thirty-eighth session of the Executive Committee.

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