Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly.

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees of providing international protection to refugees and seeking permanent solutions to the problem of refugees; emphasizes that refugee protection is primarily the responsibility of States; calls on all States to refrain from taking measures that jeopardize the institution of asylum, in particular by returning or expelling refugees or asylum-seekers contrary to international human rights and to humanitarian and refugee law; urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations to cooperate in efforts to lighten the burden borne by States that have received large numbers of asylum-seekers and refugees; calls upon States and all concerned parties to refrain from any actions that prevent the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner and other humanitarian personnel from performing the functions required under their mandates; urges all States and relevant organizations to support the High Commissioner's search for durable solutions to refugee problems; calls upon all States to promote conditions conducive to the return of refugees and to support their sustainable reintegration by providing countries of origin with necessary rehabilitation and development assistance, and to strengthen its support of national efforts at legal and judicial capacity-building; calls upon all Governments and other donors to demonstrate their international solidarity and burden-sharing with countries of asylum, in particular developing countries, countries in transition and countries with limited resources, that host large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers, and to contribute to the programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner.

Adopted without vote, 70th meeting

4 p.

Adopted at the 70th plenary meeting, 12 Dec. 1997.