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STATUTE OF THE OFFICE OF U.N.H.C.R



/* Posted 24 Oct 12:00am 1997 by drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
/* -----------------" Statute of UNHCR "--------------------- */

STATUTE OF THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
(Collection of International Instruments Concerning
Refugees, published by the office of UNHCR, Geneva 1979)
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pp.3-8

Section I
Refugees and stateless persons
I
STATUTE OF THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
General Assembly REsolution 428(V)
of 14 December 1950

The General Assembly:
  In view of its resolution 319 A(IV) of 3 December 1949,

  1. Adopts the annex to the present resolution, being the Statute of the
  Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for REfugees:

  2. Calls upon Governments to co-operate with the UNited Nations High
  commissioner for REfugees in the performance of his functions concerning
  refugees falling under the competence of his Office, especially by:

        (a) Becoming parties to international conventions providing for the
        protection of refugees, and taking the necessary steps of
        implementation under such conventions;
        (b) Entering into special agreements with the High Commissioner for
        the execution of measures calculated to improve the situation of
        refugees and to reduce the number requiring protection;
        (c) Admitting refugees to their territories, not excluding those in
        the most destitute categories;
        (d) Assisting the High Commissioner in his efforts to promote the
        voluntary repatriation of refugees;
        (e) Promoting the assimilation of refugees, especially facilitating
        their naturalization;
        (f) Providing refugees with travel and other documents such as
        would normally be provided to other aliens by their national
        authorities, especially documents which would facilitate their
        resettlement;
        (g) Permitting refugees to transfer their assets and especially
        those necessary for their resettlement;
        (h) Providing the High Commissioner with information concerning the
        number and condition of refugees, and laws and regulations
        concerning them.

  3. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution,
  together with the annex attached thereto, also to States non-members of
  the UNited Nations, with a view to obtaining their co-operation in its
  implementation.
------------------------------
ANNEX
STATUE OF THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

Chapter 1
General Provisions

1. the United Nations High Commissioner for REfugees, acting under the
authority of the General Assembly, shall assume the function of providing
international protection, under the auspices of the United Nations, to
refugees who fall within the scope of the present Statue and of seeking
permanent solutions for the problem of refugees by assisting Governments
and, subject to the approval of the Governments concerned, private
organizations to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of such refugees, or
their assimilation within new national communities.

In the exercise of his functions, more particularly when difficulties
arise, and for instance with regard to any controversy concerning the
international status of these persons, the High Commissioner shall request
the opinion of the advisory committee on refugees if it is created.

2. The work of the High Commissioner shall be of an entirely non-political
character; it shall be humanitarian and social and shall relate, as a rule,
to groups and categories of refugees.

3. The High Commissioner shall follow policy directives given him by the
General Assembly or the Economic Social Council.

4. The Economic and Social Council may decide, after hearing the views of
the High Commissioner on the subject, to establish an advisory committee on
refugees, which shall consist of representatives of States Members and
States non-members of the United Nations, to be selected by the Council on
the basis of their demonstrated interest in and devotion to the solution of
the refugee problem.

5. The General Assembly shall review, not later than at its eighth regular
session, the arrangements for the Office of the High Commissioner with an
view to determining whether the Office should be continued beyond 31
DEcember 1953.

Chapter II
Functions of the High Commissioner

<**** Texts abridged ****>

8. The High Commissioner shall provide for the protection of refugees
falling under the competence of his Office by:

        (a) promoting the conclusion and ratification of international
        convention for the protection of refugees, supervising their
        application and proposing amendments thereto;
        (b) Promoting through special agreements with Governments the
        execution of any measures calculated to improve the situation of
        refugees and to reduce the number requiring protection;
        (c) Assisting governmental and private efforts to promote voluntary
        repatriation or assimilation within new national communities;
        (d) Promoting the admission of refugees, not excluding those in the
        most destitute categories, to the territories of States;
        (e) Endeavouring to obtain permission for refugees to transfer
        their assets and especially those necessary for their resettlement;
        (f) Obtaining from Governments information concerning the number
        and conditions of refugees in their territories and the laws and
        regulations concerning them;
        (g) Keeping in close touch with the Governments and
        inter-governmental organizations concerned;
        (h) Establishing contact in such manner as he may think best with
        private organizations dealing with refugee question.
        (i)Facilitating the co-ordination of the efforts of private
        organizations concerned with the welfare of refugees.

9. The High Commissioner shall engage in such additional activities,
including repatriation and resettlement, as the General Assembly may
determine, within the limits of the resources placed at his disposal.

10. The High Commissioner shall administer any funds, public or private,
which he receives for assistance to refugees, and shall distribute them
among the private and, as appropriate, public agencies which he deems best
qualified to administer such assistance.

The High Commissioner may reject any offers which he does not consider
appropriate or which cannot be utilized.

The High Commissioner shall not appeal to Governments for funds or make a
general appeal, without the prior approval of the General Assembly.

The High Commissioner shall include in his annual report a statement of his
activities in this field.

11. The High Commissioner shall be entitled to present his views before the
General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary
bodies.

The High Commissioner shall report annually to the General Assembly through
the Economic and Social Council; his report shall be considered as a
separate item on the agenda of the General Assembly.

12. The High Commissioner may invite the co-operation of the various
specialized agencies.
 .......

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