Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

2789 (XXVI)

XXVI. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE

2789. Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees concerning his current activities¹, and having heard his statement,²

Noting with appreciation the results obtained by the High Commissioner in the accomplishment of his humanitarian task of providing international protection to refugees within his mandate and promoting permanent solutions to their problems,

Considering the increasing and fruitful co-operation between the High Commissioner and the other members Of the United Nations system in the field of rural settlement, education and training of refugees in developing countries, particularly in Africa, which results in a better co-ordination of action and a greater efficiency of the United Nations system as a whole,

Noting with satisfaction the recent decision of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme to approve the participation of the High Commissioner in the new country programming system adopted by the United Nations Development Programme and his association, where necessary, with any efforts made by Governments, with the assistance of the Programme, to develop regions where large groups of refugees are being settled with the assistance of the High Commissioner,

Recognizing the importance of voluntary repatriation as a permanent solution to the refugee problem and the useful role that United Nations bodies and non-governmental agencies can play in facilitating the rehabilitation of groups of refugees who have voluntarily returned to their countries of origin,

Noting with satisfaction the increasing number of Governments contributing to the High Commissioner's assistance programme and the substantial increase in some of these contributions,

Commending the growing number of accessions to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951³ and the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees of 1967,⁴

1. Expresses its deep satisfaction at the efficient manner in which the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and his staff continue to accomplish their humanitarian tasks;

2. Requests the High Commissioner to continue to provide international protection and assistance to refugees who are his concern, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the directives of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme;

3. Requests the High Commissioner to continue his efforts, in co-operation with Governments, United Nations bodies and voluntary agencies, to promote permanent and speedy solutions to the problems of refugees who are his concern through voluntary repatriation, integration in countries of asylum or resettlement in other countries;

4. Urges Governments to continue to lend their support to the High Commissioner's humanitarian action by:

(a) Facilitating the accomplishment of his task in the field of international protection;

(b) Co-operating in the promotion of permanent solutions to refugee problems;

(c) Providing the necessary means to attain the financial targets established with the approval of the Executive Committee.

2001st plenary meeting,
6 December 1971

1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/8412) and Supplement No. 12A (A/8412/Add.1).

2 Ibid., Twenty-sixth Session, Third Committee, 1874th meeting, paras. 1-15.

3 United Nations Treaty Series, vol. 189 (1954), No. 2545.

4 United Nations: Treaty Series, vol. 606 (1967), No. 8791.