TNAG-1800-FCO40-2560-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-principle-of-first-asylum-1988 — Page 188

UNNED NATIONS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S PROGRAMME

Thirtieth session

NOTE ON INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

(Submitted by the High Commissioner)

A

(-7 SUPP

tays

Distr. GENERAL

A/AC.96/567

14 August 1979

FA

Original: ENGLISH

cc.

45

P.A.. MED OWALL Home offers.

I eN, Branch.

Introduction

1.

The principal developments in regard to international protection up to 31 March 1979 are described in the High Commissioner's report submitted to the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session through the Economic and Social Council (document E/1979/95). In that report the High Commissioner draws attention to a number of positive developments but also mentions a number of matters giving rise to concern. These relate more particularly to the difficulties encountered by asylum-seekers in finding a country of permanent or even temporary refuge, the return (refoulement) of refugees to countries where they have reason to fear persecution, and the adoption of unjustified and arbitrary measures of expulsion and detention in respect of refugees. A number of more recent developments have once again confirmed the vital importance of international protection and the need for this function to be exercised within the context of international solidarity and co-operation.

Recent developments

2. In one particular area, the difficulties in regard to asylum encountered by refugees leaving their country of origin by sea have increased to a marked extent. A number of States in the area have ceased to observe the principle of the grant of temporary asylum and have taken active measures to prevent boats carrying asylum-seekers from entering their territorial waters. Asylum-seekers who have succeeded in entering the territory have been returned to the high seas and exposed to serious danger, extreme hardship and in many instances loss of life. In the same area, persons seeking asylum at land frontiers have been refused admission, or, if they had already entered the national territory, have as a matter of policy been returned to their country of origin. The exercise of the High Commissioner's protection role- entrusted to him by the international community has been rendered more difficult by the fact that States in this area have not acceded to the principal international refugee instruments.

GE.79-3298