1986 (Executive Committee—37th Session) No. 43 (XXXVII) GENEVA DECLARATION ON THE 1951 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AND THE 1967 PROTOCOL RELATING TO THE STATUS OF REFUGEES ∗ (1986) Whereas serious and large-scale refugee problems continue to exist in many regions of the world; Whereas accession to the 1951 United Nations Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees is of importance in strengthening the legal situation of refugees and in facilitating the exercise by the High Commissioner of his international protection function; Whereas accession to these basic humanitarian instruments defining the legal status of refugees by a large number of States in different regions of the world reflects the fundamental importance, often recalled in resolutions of the General Assembly, of the principles they contain and assists in establishing their universal applicability; Whereas recent accessions to the Convention and the Protocol have brought the number of States parties to these instruments to one hundred and one; Now therefore, The Executive Committee, recalling the need for universal accession to these instruments, 1. Solemnly calls upon States that have not yet become parties to these basic humanitarian instruments to accede to them so that they can acquire a truly universal character; 2. Expresses the hope that by the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees all Member States of the United Nations will have acceded to these instruments; 3. Stresses that, in addition to accession, effective application of the principles and provisions of the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol are of the utmost importance; 4. Calls upon the Chairman and Member States of the Executive Committee to assist the High Commissioner in his efforts to promote further accessions to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol. ∗ DECLARATION ENDORSED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER’S PROGRAMME UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF REFUGEES 56