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Report of the Working Group on Problems Related to the Rescue of Asylum-Seekers in Distress at Sea

Executive Committee Meetings

Report of the Working Group on Problems Related to the Rescue of Asylum-Seekers in Distress at Sea
No. 26 (XXXIII) - 1982

20 October 1982
Executive Committee 33rd session. Contained in United Nations General Assembly Document No. 12A (A/37/12/Add.1). Conclusion 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.
Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme

The Executive Committee,

(a) Noted the report of the Working Group of Experts on the Rescue of Asylum-Seekers at Sea (EC/SCP/21);

(b) Reiterated the fundamental character of the obligation to rescue asylum-seekers in distress at sea;

(c) Stressed the importance for coastal States, flag States, countries of resettlement and the international community as a whole to take appropriate steps to facilitate the fulfilment of this obligation in its various aspects;

(d) Considered that solution of the problems connected with the rescue of asylum-seekers at sea should not only be sought in the context of legal norms but also through practical arrangements aimed at removing as far as possible the difficulties which have been encountered;

(e) Noted that the report of the Working Group of Experts contained a number of suggestions aimed at achieving such arrangements and called upon UNHCR to examine the feasibility of these suggestions;

(f) Noted the preliminary report submitted by the High Commissioner (EC/SCP/24) and requested UNHCR to continue its study of the matter and to submit a report to the Executive Committee at its thirty-fourth session, through its Sub-Committee on International Protection.