International Conference on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Southern Africa

A/RES/42/106

The General Assembly,

Gravely concerned at the deteriorating situation in southern Africa arising from the continued domination and oppression of the peoples of South Africa and Namibia by the minority racist regime of South Africa,

Conscious of the need to provide increased assistance to the peoples of the region and the liberation movements of South Africa and Namibia in their struggle against colonialism, racial discrimination and the policies of apartheid,

Conscious also of its responsibility to provide economic, material and humanitarian assistance to independent States in southern Africa in order to assist them in coping with the situation resulting from the acts of aggression and destabilization committed by the apartheid regime of South Africa,

Aware that apartheid in South Africa, the illegal occupation of Namibia and acts of destabilization carried out by South Africa and its surrogate elements continue to be the main causes of refugee flows and the displacement of persons in the southern region of Africa,

Taking note of the decision by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its twenty-third ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 27 to 29 July 1987, to convene an International Conference on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Southern Africa and to enlist the active support of the international community, in particular the United Nations, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference, to that end,

Taking note also of the decision by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to endorse the proposal for the convening of an international conference to address the specific situation of refugees and displaced persons in southern Africa,

Appreciating the current efforts of the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees and other persons displaced by armed conflict in the countries of southern Africa,

Recognizing that the task of caring for refugees is a matter of international concern and solidarity in keeping with the Charter of the United Nations, international and regional instruments, in particular the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, as well as the 1969 Convention of the Organization of African Unity Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa,

Convinced that there is an urgent need for the international community to extend maximum and concerted assistance to southern African countries sheltering refugees, returnees and displaced persons and also to highlight the plight of the refugees, returnees and displaced persons in southern Africa,

1. Welcomes the decision by the Organization of African Unity to convene in September 1988 an International Conference on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Southern Africa;

2. Reiterates its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts, on behalf of the international community, to organize and mobilize special programmes of economic assistance for those African States facing grave economic difficulties, the front-line States and other independent States of southern Africa to help them to withstand the effects of the acts of aggression and destabilization committed by the apartheid regime of South Africa;

3. Welcomes the decision by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the International Conference;

4. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in close co-operation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to give all possible assistance to the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity in the preparation and organization of the International Conference;

5. Appeals to all Member States, the specialized agencies of the United Nations system and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide all the necessary support and resources needed for the convening and success of the International Conference;

6. Calls upon the international community to provide increased assistance to the countries of southern Africa to enable them to strengthen their capacity to provide the necessary facilities and services for the care and well-being of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in their countries;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to apprise the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1988 and to report to the General Assembly at its forty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution.