CONCLUSIONS ADOPTED BY THE EXECUTIVE ... - UNHCR

1986 (Executive Committee—37 th 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
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