2008 (Executive Committee—59th Session)
Refugees and others of concern with disabilities
(i) Welcomes the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional
Protocol; and, for State parties, underlines that refugees and others of concern to UNHCR with disabilities are
entitled on the same basis as others to the full enjoyment of the rights and standards set forth in these
instruments without discrimination;
(j) Emphasizes the importance of promoting a protection and reception environment, with particular attention
given to vulnerability of children and women, that encourages the systematic inclusion of refugees and others of
concern with disabilities in all areas of society, including in national programmes and policies, and mobilizes
financial and other necessary resources, as appropriate, to support host countries efforts in this regard on the
basis of international solidarity and burden sharing;
(k) Urges UNHCR and its partners to take all necessary measures to actively promote and achieve inclusion of
persons with disabilities, at all stages: displacement, temporary settlement and in the search for durable
solutions, in order to reduce the gap between principles and standards and the reality experienced by displaced
persons with disabilities;
Protracted refugee situations
(l) Recognizing the need for Governments, UNHCR and the international community to continue to respond to
the asylum, protection and assistance needs of refugees until durable solutions are found, and while noting that
voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement are the traditional durable solutions for refugees,
affirms that voluntary repatriation is the preferred solution, when feasible;
(m) Welcomes the High Commissioner's initiative to unlock and find comprehensive solutions for protracted
refugee situations; acknowledges the contribution the ongoing "UN Delivering as One" process may make to
such solutions; recognizes that, in protracted refugee situations, developing countries and countries in transition
carry a heavy burden by hosting large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers; and reiterates a strong
commitment to uphold the principles of international solidarity and burden sharing;
(n) Stresses the importance, while searching for solutions, of supporting the efforts of host countries to enhance
education, health care and provision of other basic services in refugee-impacted areas, and encourages State
parties to respect the full range of rights included in the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol and, mindful of
the particular conditions applicable, to explore the most practical and feasible means to accord freedom of
movement, and other important rights underpinning self-reliance;
Resettlement
(o) Welcomes the progress that has been achieved in increasing the number of States offering opportunities for
resettlement and the number of refugees resettled, in particular of women and girls at heightened risk;
(p) Encourages UNHCR to continue its efforts in collaboration with resettlement countries to promote the use of
resettlement strategically;
(q) Reaffirms the strategic use of resettlement as an instrument of protection and its use as a durable solution,
especially to resolve protracted refugee situations; notes the exponential increase in the number of refugees in
need of resettlement identified by UNHCR as a result of its concerted efforts to conduct needs-based
assessments; urges States without existing resettlement programmes to offer places for refugees recognized by
UNHCR and in need of third country resettlement; encourages States with existing programmes to consider
making available more resettlement places; and acknowledges the importance of registration as a tool of
protection and as a means to enable quantification and assessment of the need for resettlement;
Internal displacement
(r) Recalls Conclusions No. 75 (XLV) and No. 87 (L) on internally displaced persons; takes note of resolution
53/125 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1998; acknowledges that UNHCR is a
partner in the humanitarian reform efforts and has a leading role in the emergency shelter, protection and camp
coordination clusters; and further notes that the primary responsibility for the welfare and protection of IDPs
lies with the State concerned; reiterates the relevance of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and
reaffirms its support for UNHCR's role with internally displaced persons on the basis of criteria specified by the
General Assembly, which includes not undermining the mandate of the Office for refugees and the institution of
asylum;
(s) Takes note of UNHCR's role in the context of inter-agency arrangements for the protection of internally
displaced persons based on the principles of predictability and accountability developed under the United
Nations humanitarian reform process;
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