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Message from Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for International Red Cross Day, 8 May 1953
8 May 1953 -
Statement by Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to the High Commissioner's Advisory Committee on Refugees, Third Session, 25 April 1953
25 Apr 1953 Delegates from 15 Member-States welcomed
General Assembly decision-time on UNHCR's future approaching
Most disturbing: 100,000+ refugees still in camps in Europe after 7 years
Camps in Germany particularly worrying, with outflow in West Berlin
Measures taken to cope with Berlin influx
Importance of visiting refugees where they are and have personal contact with them -
Speech made by Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at the meeting of Swiss Aid to Europe held in Berne, on 19 February 1953
19 Feb 1953 Current refugee problem not just a legacy of WWII
It will also not go away ("perennial" not "transitory")
Phases of refugee return since WWII: return (UNRRA), resettlement (IRO) and now (more assimilation)
Mistake in thinking that these have solved the refugee problem
Important not to reach a receiving country's "saturation point" for immigrants
This point can only be extended by economic development (roads, schools, housing, etc.)
Some countries reaching this point (Australia, Canada, Brazil examples)
Problems in defining "refugee" - too wide = number impossible to cope with
UN definition includes around 2 million refugees
Thanks to Ford Foundaton for unrestricted $3m donation
Big problem is refugees in Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece and Near and Far East
Still 100,000+ refugees in camps in Europe
UNHCR's proposed programme: protection; promotion of emigration and of assimilation; material relief to the most needy
HC's preference for assimilation or integration over emigration not philosophical, just a recognition of current realities
Swiss Aid's work in Austria
Importance of small loans on easy terms in refugee integration
HC's disappointment with contributions to Emergency Fund for assistance to most needy -
Verbatim Record of the remarks of Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to the 470th Meeting of the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1952
9 Dec 1952 Essence of work with refugees: to give them a place they can call home
5 things UNHCR does; voluntary repatriation; migration; assimilation; assistance to most needy; protection to those who need it
UNHCR's ability to repatriate depends upon goodwill of governments and necessary funds
Precious little of either, so not much voluntary repatriation
Convention now signed by 20 States, first ratification (Denmark) made
Progress on protection agreements with Germany and Italy
Statement to concentrate on migration, assimilation and assistance
HC's preference is "migration where possible, assimilation where no migration possible, and assistance where neither migration or assimilation feasible."
However, in reality a refugee's chance of migration is not big
130,000 refugees still living in camps in Europe
Reasons why refugees are unlikely to get a chance at migration
International agencies cannot ensure assimilation, which needs economic and social condtions they do not control
Importance of credit facilities in assimilation, example of Germany
United Nations Refugee Emergency Fund for assistance to most needy
Target $3m, $800,000 so far received
Issue of refugees in Shanghai -
"The United Nations: A Challenge" - Address given by Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on the occasion of the United Nations Day celebrations in the Assembly Hall, Palais des Nations, Geneva, 24 October 1952
24 Oct 1952 UN Committees would do well to remember they are deciding the lives of generations to come...
...and to act with the honesty and moral clarity of children
But they represent us, and can only be as good as we ourselves are
Speaker proud to be an idealist, because it is the idealists who have improved mankind
UN has saved hundreds of thousands from starvation and misery
UN a new phase in mankind's struggle betweeen Might and Right
UN as supranational unit of mankind
"What we have achieved is of less importance than what we have still to perform" -
Speech by Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to the Second Session of the High Commissioner's Advisory Committee on Refugees, 15 September 1952
15 Sep 1952 Disappointing response to appeals for contributions to Refugee Emergency Fund
Consequent curtailment of assistance programmes
Not possible for some governments to afford extra burden of refugee care
International community must therefore help out
No improvement in Shanghai or Trieste
Voluntary repatriation not much in demand
Migration and assimilation therefore only viable solutions
'New life' feeling that migration alone gives
However, migration possibilities limited
Assimilation therefore only real solution for many refugees
Needs capital
Progress on the ensurance of citizen rights to refugees in Italy, Austria and Germany
Disappointment at delay in Convention ratifications
Brazil, Italy and Holy See have recently signed
Need for imaginative programmes for assimilating refugees
Thanks to voluntary agencies for doing this
Even smallest projects of value
Special thanks to Ford Foundation -
Statement by Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for International Red Cross Day, 8 May 1952
8 May 1952 The vision of Henri Dunant made reality
"Good unites more than evil divides"
"Nothing makes human beings feel better than to help other human beings"
Success of International Red Cross Day a tribute to humanity -
Statement by Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on "The Refugee in the Postwar World," A Preliminary Survey conducted by Mr. Jacques Vernant, 30 January 1952
30 Jan 1952 The report "The Refugee in the Postwar World," financed by a Rockefeller Foundation grant, is an nevertheless an independent report, for the substance of which neither UNHCR nor the Rockefeller Foundation bear any responsibility -
Address by Dr. Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to the Annual Meeting of the United Service for New Americans, New York City, 19 January 1952
19 Jan 1952 IRO achievements, but temporary organisation
UNHCR constituted in response to more permanent refugee problems
Refugees originally within UNHCR remit (guessed at 1-1/2 million)
UNHCR not originally conceived as an operational organisation
Desparate straits of refugees in far East
Refugee health in Shanghai, Samar and Trieste
UNHCR funded directly by Governments
UNHCR relations with voluntary agencies
Permanent solutions: repatriation, resettlement, assimilation
Credit facilities for refugees
Participation of refugees in planned migration schemes (IOM to move 115,000 in first year)
International protection in countries of asylum = assurance of citizen rights
USA Constitution ensures these rights automatically, other countries don't
USA branch office has a primarily liaison function
Importance of United States voluntary agencies to UNHCR's ability to carry out its work
What United Service for New Americans does in USA, UNHCR has to do worldwide