A/RES/58/169
Stressing the importance of adherence to international humanitarian, human
rights and refugee law in order to avert mass exoduses and to protect refugees and
internally displaced persons, and expressing its deep concern at the lack of respect
for those laws and principles, especially during armed conflict, including the denial
of safe and unimpeded access to the displaced,
Reaffirming the primary responsibility of States to ensure the protection of
refugees and internally displaced persons,
Noting with satisfaction the efforts of the United Nations system to develop a
comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes and effects of movements of
refugees and other displaced persons and strengthening emergency preparedness and
response mechanisms,
Recognizing that the human rights machinery of the United Nations, including
the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the human rights treaty
bodies, has important capabilities to address human rights violations that cause
movements of refugees and displaced persons or prevent durable solutions to their
plight,
Taking note of the work in progress of the United Nations system to clarify the
role of the United Nations in post-conflict transition situations, including mass
exodus situations,
Recognizing the complementarity between the systems for the protection of
human rights and for humanitarian action, in particular the mandates of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, as well as the work of the Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the Representative of the
Secretary-General on internally displaced persons and the Special Representative of
the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and that cooperation
between them, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as coordination
between the human rights, humanitarian, development, political and security
components of the United Nations system, makes important contributions to the
promotion and protection of the human rights of persons forced into mass exodus
and displacement,
Acknowledging with appreciation the important and independent work of the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other humanitarian
agencies in protecting and assisting refugees and internally displaced persons, in
cooperation with relevant international bodies,
1.
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 6
2.
Strongly deplores ethnic and other forms of intolerance as one of the
major causes of forced migratory movements, and urges States to take all necessary
steps to ensure respect for human rights, especially the rights of persons belonging
to minorities;
Reaffirms the need for all Governments, intergovernmental bodies and
3.
relevant international organizations to intensify their cooperation and assistance in
worldwide efforts to address human rights situations that lead to, as well as the
serious protection and assistance problems that result from, mass exoduses of
refugees and displaced persons;
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A/58/186.