CONCLUSIONS ADOPTED BY THE EXECUTIVE ... - UNHCR

The Executive Committee,
1985 (Executive Committee—36 th Session)
CONCLUSIONS ADOPTED
BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ON INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF REFUGEES 1
No. 36 (XXXVI) GENERAL (1985)
(a) Recognized the crucial importance of the High Commissioner's international protection function, the
exercise of which had become increasingly difficult due to the growing complexity of present-day refugee
problems;
(b) Reiterated that the High Commissioner's international protection function can only be effectively
carried out with the full support of Governments; of particular importance is the provision of durable solutions
by Governments in co-operation with the High Commissioner;
(c) Noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in the further development of international refugee law
and the strengthening of internationally recognized standards for the treatment of refugees;
(d) Welcomed the fact that a large number of States had now acceded to the 1951 United Nations
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol and expressed the hope that further States
would accede to these instruments in the near future, thereby strengthening the framework of international
solidarity and burden-sharing of which these instruments are an integral part;
(e) Welcomed the fact that one country has recently withdrawn the geographical limitation in respect of its
obligations under the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and that the question of such withdrawal is
being given favourable consideration by another country; recommended consideration of the withdrawal of the
geographical limitation by those States which still maintain it;
(f) Noted with serious concern that despite the development and further strengthening of established
standards for the treatment of refugees, the basic rights of refugees in different areas of the world had continued
to be disregarded and that in particular refugees are being exposed to pirate attacks, other acts of violence,
military and armed attacks, arbitrary detention and refoulement;
(g) Noted that the General Assembly has adopted by consensus resolution 39/140 of which paragraph 3,
inter alia, relates to military and armed attacks on refugee camps and settlements;
(h) Stressed the importance of the question of military and armed attacks on refugee camps and settlements
being kept under constant review by the Executive Committee and requested the Chairman to continue
consultations on this matter;
(i) Welcomed the fact that States in many parts of the world, including States confronted with economic
and developmental difficulties, continue to grant asylum to large numbers of refugees;
(j) Noted with concern the growing phenomenon of refugees and asylum-seekers who, having found
protection in one country, move in an irregular manner to another country and expressed the hope that the
problem this represents can be mitigated through the adoption of global solutions in a spirit of international cooperation
and burden-sharing, and requested the High Commissioner to continue consultations with a view to
reaching agreement on this matter;
(k) Welcomed the convening by the High Commissioner in May 1985 of the Consultations on the Arrivals
of Asylum-Seekers and Refugees in Europe;
(l) Reaffirmed the importance of creating a deeper understanding in the public mind of the special plight
of refugees in order to facilitate the exercise of the High Commissioner's international protection function;
1 Contained in United Nations General Assembly Document No. 12A (A/40/12/Add.1)
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