A/RES/49/169
Page 2
Reaffirming the importance of the 1951 Convention 4/ and the 1967
Protocol 5/ relating to the Status of Refugees as the cornerstone of the
international system for the protection of refugees, and noting with
satisfaction that one hundred and twenty-seven States are now parties to one
or both instruments,
Reaffirming also the purely humanitarian and non-political character of
the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner, as well as the crucial
importance of the High Commissioner’s functions of providing international
protection to refugees and seeking solutions to refugee problems,
Welcoming the continuing strong commitment of States to providing
protection and assistance to refugees and the valuable support extended by
Governments to the High Commissioner in carrying out her humanitarian tasks,
Welcoming also the strong commitment made by States in the Programme of
Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, 6/
held at Cairo from 5 to 13 September 1994, to the institution of asylum and to
refugees and displaced persons,
Emphasizing the need for States to assist the High Commissioner in
seeking durable and timely solutions to the problems of refugees, to take part
in efforts to prevent conditions that might give rise to the flight of
refugees, and to address the root causes of refugee outflows, and underlining,
in this connection, State responsibility, particularly as it relates to
countries of origin,
Commending the High Commissioner and her staff for the competent,
courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their
responsibilities, paying tribute to those staff members who have endangered
their lives in the course of their duties, and noting with profound regret the
deaths of staff members as a consequence of violent events in several
countries around the world,
Commending also those States, particularly the least developed and those
hosting millions of refugees over long periods of time, which, despite severe
economic, development and environmental challenges of their own, continue to
admit large numbers of refugees into their territories, and emphasizing the
need to share the burden of those States to the maximum extent possible
through international assistance, including development-oriented assistance
and assistance related to the impact on the environment of the large numbers
of refugees and displaced persons of concern to the Office of the High
Commissioner,
Noting with concern that the number of refugees and other persons to
whom the Office of the High Commissioner is called upon to provide assistance
and protection has continued to increase and that their protection continues
to be seriously jeopardized in many situations as a result of denial of
admission, unlawful expulsion, refoulement, unjustified detention, other
threats to their personal security, dignity and well-being and failure to
respect and ensure their fundamental freedoms and human rights,
4/
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545.
5/
Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791.
6/
A/CONF.171/13, chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
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