Commonwealth Group Calls for Strengthened International Co-operation on Refugees and Displaced Persons
19 June 1997
Representatives of 16 Commonwealth countries who met in London on 16-17 June have called for increased international attention and strong collective action to address the tragic problem of refugees and displaced persons worldwide. The Commonwealth's 53 member countries currently host some 3.1 million refugees and 1.1 million internally displaced persons of concern to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) within their territories.
The Intergovernmental Group on Refugees and Displaced Persons, in its Report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, emphasises that durable solutions to the problem of refugees and displaced persons can only be realised through concerted efforts in support of the work carried out by the UNHCR, other relevant United Nations agencies and representatives, regional and international organisations, and national and international non-governmental organisations.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who received the Report today from the Group's chairperson, Ambassador Michael E Sherifis, said: "The need for international co-operation is vital, and I believe the Commonwealth has a contribution to make in helping to reinforce and strengthen the work of the United Nations agencies and other international and non-governmental agencies working in this field. The Commonwealth should also be able to assist by focusing international attention, especially within our own member countries, on these pressing problems and by facilitating exchanges in areas of common concern and experience."
Among the recommendations in its Report, the Group stresses the importance of regional approaches to the problem of refugees and displaced persons and a possible co-ordinating role for the Commonwealth. It also calls for measures to increase awareness of the problems of Commonwealth countries hosting significant numbers of refugees and displaced persons.
Preventive measures, including efforts to facilitate conflict resolution and to encourage disengagement from past patterns of ethnic conflict and strife, feature prominently in the Group's recommendations. Promotion of the principles contained in the 1991 Harare Commonwealth Declaration is identified as a means of addressing problems before they erupt into conflict.
The Group urges that women and children, who make up approximately 80 per cent of all refugees and displaced persons, should be treated as a priority. It recommends that Commonwealth countries should implement relevant human rights instruments and guidelines for the protection of women and children. Practical measures to involve women in decision-making and implementation of relief programmes are also suggested in the Report.
In order to help countries meet their legal commitments to the international refugee regime, the Group suggests that the provision of technical assistance by the Commonwealth Secretariat might be considered. Information-sharing and training of staff are identified as other possible mechanisms to help build capacity in this area.
The Report of the Commonwealth Group will be considered at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Edinburgh in October this year. The Group was set up by the Secretary-General in 1995 following a request from Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting that year.
Note to Editors: The countries represented on the IGRDP are Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Britain, Canada, Cyprus, Ghana, India, Malawi, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The Group has met three times in London on 2-3 October 1996, 12-13 February 1997 and 16-17 June 1997.
97/26 19 June 1997
delicious
digg
reddit
facebook
stumbleupon
News feedsLatest Speech
- Commonwealth Tourism Ministers MeetingCommonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma
Useful Resources
Subscribe to our weekly email news bulletin and quarterly ezine - click here