Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

A/RES/33/26

33. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE*

26. Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his Office¹ and having heard his statement,²

Recalling its resolutions 32/67 and 32/70 of 8 December 1977 and noting the gravity of the problems continuing to face the High Commissioner in his efforts to assist refugees and displaced persons in many parts of the world,

Reaffirming that the activities of the High Commissioner are eminently humanitarian in character and that there is need to assist, on as wide a basis as possible, his efforts to promote permanent solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement in other countries,

Commending Governments for the humanitarian spirit in which they have received refugees and for the generous manner in which they have contributed to alleviating suffering,

Deploring the fact that refugees often face the threat of refoulement, arbitrary detention and the denial of asylum and noting that it is necessary to ensure their basic human rights, protection and safety, inter alia, through further accessions to and more effective implementation of international instruments, notably the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees³ and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees⁴

Noting that the increased needs of the refugees and displaced persons of concern to the Office require the widening of financial and other support from Governments and the closest co-operation of United Nations bodies and non-governmental organizations,

1. Commends the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and his staff for the efficient manner in which they continue to discharge their many responsibilities in assisting refugees and displaced persons and takes note with appreciation of the report of the High Commissioner, including the report of the Executive Committee of the High Commissionees Programme on its twenty-ninth session;

2. Requests the High Commissioner to intensify his efforts to assist refugees and displaced persons of concern to his Office, especially with a view to providing urgent humanitarian assistance to the large and increasing numbers in need in Africa, Asia and Latin America;

3. Further requests the High Commissioner to continue to promote permanent and speedy solutions, in close co-operation with Governments, United Nations bodies and non-governmental organizations;

4. Commends Governments that are actively encouraging voluntary repatriation or return as a solution to the problems in their area and requests the High Commissioner to render all possible assistance in such situations in lending help in the rehabilitation of the returnees;

5. Urges Governments to continue to co-operate closely with the High Commissioner in efforts to achieve the self-sufficiency and, where possible, the integration of refugees in countries of asylum, and to accept for resettlement, on the widest possible basis, refugees from countries of first asylum;

6. Further urges Governments to continue to facilitate the work of the High Commissioner in the field of international protection by considering accessions to relevant instruments for the benefit of refugees, the effective implementation of these instruments and the scrupulous observance of humanitarian principles with respect to the granting of asylum and the non-refoulement of refugees;

7. Commends the increasing number of contributors to the High Commissioner's programmes and, emphasizing the need for a wider sharing of the financial burden, calls upon Governments to provide him with necessary funds to attain the objectives of his humanitarian programme.

63rd plenary meeting
29 November 1978

1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-third session, Supplement No. 12 (A/33/12) and Supplement No. 12A (A/33/Add.1).

2 Ibid., Thirty-third Session, Third Committee, 43rd meeting, paras. 1-13; and ibid., Third Committee, Sessional Fascicle, corrigendum.

3 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545, p. 150.

4 Ibid., vol. 606, No 8791, p. 267.