1997 (Executive Committee—48th Session) (j) Recognizes that countries of asylum carry a heavy burden, including, in particular, developing countries, countries in transition, and countries with limited resources, which, due to their location, host large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers; reiterates in this regard its commitment to uphold the principles of international solidarity and burden-sharing, and calls on Governments, UNHCR and the international community to continue to respond to the assistance needs of refugees until durable solutions are found; (k) Encourages States and UNHCR to continue to promote, where relevant, regional initiatives for refugee protection and durable solutions, and to ensure that regional standards which are developed conform fully with universally recognized standards and respond to particular regional circumstances and protection needs; (l) Welcomes the accession of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol, bringing to 135 the number of States parties to one or both of these instruments; (m) Notes with appreciation that a number of States not party to the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol continue to maintain a generous approach to asylum; nevertheless, considering that over fifty States have yet to accede to these instruments, encourages the High Commissioner to continue to promote further accessions; and urges all States that have not yet done so to accede to and implement fully these instruments, as well as relevant regional instruments for the protection of refugees, where applicable, thereby strengthening the framework of international protection; (n) Calls upon States parties to the 1951 Convention and/or the 1967 Protocol which, at the time of accession, made reservations with respect to any provisions of these instruments to review such reservations with a view to their withdrawal; (o) Welcomes the growing number of accessions to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, and encourages UNHCR to continue its efforts, in cooperation with interested organizations, to promote further accessions to both instruments, as well as to provide technical and advisory services and training globally, to disseminate information on statelessness and nationality issues, and to further its cooperation with States and other organizations interested in this area; (p) Takes note of the discussions which have taken place on measures to ensure international protection to all who need it, and encourages UNHCR to continue to organize informal consultations, with a view to making further progress in this area, including through exploring the development of guiding principles; (q) Notes that voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement are the traditional durable solutions for refugees; affirms that voluntary repatriation of refugees is the most preferred solution, when feasible; and calls upon countries of origin, countries of asylum, UNHCR, and the international community to take all necessary measures to enable refugees to exercise freely their right to return to their homes in safety and dignity; (r) Reaffirms the continuing importance of resettlement as an instrument of protection and burden-sharing and as a durable solution in specific circumstances; encourages all Governments capable of doing so to make efforts to resettle refugees; encourages Governments who have not already done so to join in offering resettlement opportunities to refugees, and requests UNHCR to report on resettlement activities to the fortyninth session of the Executive Committee; (s) Reaffirms the right of all persons to return to their countries, and the responsibility of States to facilitate the return and reintegration of their nationals; recommends to States that strategies for facilitating the return, in safety and dignity, of persons not in need of international protection be examined within a framework of international cooperation; and encourages UNHCR to continue, in cooperation with other appropriate international organizations, to look into ways in which the return process of individuals, determined through fair and effective procedures not to be in need of international protection, can be facilitated, and to inform the Standing Committee; (t) Reaffirms its Conclusions No. 39 (XXXVI), No. 54 (XXXIX), No. 60 (XL), No. 64 (XLI) and No.73 (XLIV), and urges States, UNHCR, and other humanitarian organizations, as appropriate, to take all necessary steps to implement these Conclusions, including through recognizing as refugees women whose claims to refugee status are based upon a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons enumerated in the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol, including persecution through sexual violence or other gender-related persecution; by the integration of activities on behalf of refugee women in every aspect of programme planning and implementation; and by taking action to eliminate incidents of violence against women and girls; (u) Notes with satisfaction UNHCR’s dissemination and training activities with regard to promoting refugee law and protection principles, and calls upon the High Commissioner to continue to strengthen the Office’s refugee law promotion work, with the active support of States and through increased cooperation with non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and other relevant organizations. 122