TNAG-1800-FCO40-2560-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-principle-of-first-asylum-1988 — Page 192

とい

024.3

6. Now 7.9

Addendrim

to

the Report of the

UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

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SECTION III

INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

(Item 4 of the agenda)

44. Introducing the Note on Intemational Protection (document A/AC.96/567), the Director of Protection stated that besides extending international protection to refugees, it was the Office's duty to preserve the inviolability of the principles established in the field of international protection which were of a universal character.

45.

He further stated that the various disquieting developments mentioned in the document called for a reaffirmation by the international community of the universal character of the principles established in the humanitarian field for the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers notably the principle of non-refoulement and the principle that asylum" at least of a temporary nature, must under no circumstances be refused if this would expose asylum-seekers to danger. States should, as a matter of urgency, accede to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol thereby confirming their acceptance of recognized principles for the treatment of refugees. It should be stressed that the Convention did not define a privileged status for refugees but laid down minimum standards for their treatment. The Convention also defined the obligations of refugees and took due account of the interests of Contracting States in regard to public order and security.

46.

There was also a need for adopting measures for the effective implementation of the Convention and the Protocol on the national plane. While considerable progress had been achieved, certain States which had been parties to the Convention for a considerable period, considered that the rights of refugees and asylum- seekers were adequately guaranteed by their legislation or administrative practice and that specific implementing measures, e.g. as regards procedures for determining refugee status, were not required. Despite the generally liberal practices followed by these States, however, it sometimes occurred that genuine refugees were in danger of being returned to their country of origin by subordinate or frontier authorities. Such situations would be less likely to arise if formal procedures for the determination of refugee status existed in the country concerned.

47. The promotion of voluntary repatriation was one of the principal functions of the Office and several large-scale voluntary repatriation operations had recently been initiated or successfully completed. During a recent visit to the area, the Director of Protection had examined with the authorities of the two countries concerned, the possibility of arrangements for voluntary repatriation from Thailand to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

48. The effective exercise of international: protection also required a favourable climate of opinion in official and academic circles. The Office had therefore established co-operation with various, governmental and non-governmental humanitarian organizations and with academic institutions more particularly concerned with humanitarian problems. Excellent co-operation existed with the Council of Europe and with the Organization of African Unity. Such promotional efforts would also be undertaken in other areas, notably Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.

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