Calls upon States and other parties to armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and the spirit of international humanitarian law; welcomes the contribution of the process of Global Consultations on International Protection to strengthening the international framework for refugee protection; reaffirms that the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees remain the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa; expresses its concern about instances in which the fundamental principles of asylum are jeopardized by unlawful expulsion or refoulement or by threats to the life, physical security, integrity, dignity and well-being of refugees; deplores the deaths, injuries and other forms of violence sustained by staff members of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees; condemns any exploitation of refugees, especially their sexual exploitation; welcomes the decision by the Office of the High Commissioner to put into place a code of conduct for humanitarian personnel; reaffirms the right of return and also the principle of voluntary repatriation; calls upon the international donor community to provide financial and material assistance for the implementation of community-based development programmes in refugee-hosting areas; emphasizes the need for the Office of the High Commissioner to collate statistics; urges the international community, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing, to continue to fund generously the refugee programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner; requests all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to pay particular attention to meeting the special needs of refugee women and children and displaced persons.

Adopted without vote, 77th plenary meeting

6 p.