1992 (Executive Committee—43rd Session) CONCLUSIONS ADOPTED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF REFUGEES 1 No. 68 (XLIII) GENERAL (1992) The Executive Committee, (a) Reaffirms the primary nature of the High Commissioner's protection responsibilities which are performed as a non-political, humanitarian and social function within the framework of international refugee law and applicable regional instruments, with due regard for human rights and humanitarian law, and which necessitate cooperation with UNHCR, as well as among and between States in accordance with the United Nations Charter, on a basis of international responsibilities, solidarity and burden-sharing; (b) Notes the recent accessions by Albania, the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic and Honduras, and the notification of succession by Slovenia to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol without geographic limitation, and encourages other States to accede to these instruments in order to promote further international cooperation in responding to and resolving refugee problems; (c) Notes the value of reporting by States parties on implementation of their responsibilities under the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol, again urges States which have not yet done so to respond to the questionnaire on implementation circulated by the High Commissioner, and calls upon the High Commissioner and all States to work together to strengthen implementation, including through heightened promotional efforts, better monitoring arrangements and more harmonized application of the refugee definition criteria; (d) Welcomes the strong commitment of States to continue receiving refugees and extending to them protection and assistance; (e) Renews its expressions of deep concern regarding persistent problems in some countries or regions seriously jeopardizing the security or well-being of refugees, including numerous incidents of refoulement, expulsion, physical attacks on refugees and detention under unacceptable conditions, and calls upon States to take all measures necessary to ensure respect for the fundamental principles of refugee protection; (f) Reaffirms the primary importance of the principles of non-refoulement and asylum as basic to refugee protection; (g) Notes that effective and expeditious status determination procedures and access to them should be maintained by States with the advice and assistance of UNHCR, just as clear and intentional misuse of these procedures should be actively discouraged and recalls in this regard its Conclusion No. 65 (XLII), in particular paragraphs (n) and (o); (h) Expressed concern about the lack of adequate international protection for various groups of refugees in different parts of the world, including a large number of Palestinians, and hoped that efforts would continue within the United Nations systems to address their protection needs; (i) Expresses appreciation for the progress report on the implementation of the Guidelines on the Protection of Refugee Women (EC/SCP/74), notes with great concern the precarious situation of many refugee women, whose physical safety is often endangered and who often do not have equal access to basic necessities including adequate health and educational facilities, and calls upon all States, UNHCR and other concerned parties to ensure implementation of the Guidelines, particularly through measures aimed at eliminating all forms of sexual exploitation of and violence against refugee women, protecting women heads of household, and promoting their active participation and involvement in decisions affecting their lives and communities; (j) Reaffirms its Conclusion No. 64 (XLI) on Refugee Women and International Protection, and calls upon the High Commissioner to pursue her efforts to increase public awareness of the rights and protection needs of refugee women and girls, inter alia, through further sensitization of bodies concerned with the status of women, 1 Contained in United Nations General Assembly Document No. 12A (A/47/12/Add.1) 91