IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 577

To honor the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

for its role as a protector of the world’s refugees, to celebrate UNHCR’s

50th anniversary, and to praise the High Commissioner Sadako Ogata

for her work with UNHCR for the past ten years.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 14, 2000

Mr. HALL of Ohio (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. SMITH

of New Jersey, and Mr. LANTOS) submitted the following resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

To honor the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its role as a protector of the world’s

refugees, to celebrate UNHCR’s 50th anniversary, and

to praise the High Commissioner Sadako Ogata for her

work with UNHCR for the past ten years.

Whereas since the founding of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in December 1950, it

has become one of the world’s principal humanitarian

agencies with 244 offices in 118 countries and helps

nearly 23,000,000 people in more than 140 countries;

Whereas on December 14, 2000, UNHCR marks a half-century of helping millions of the world’s most vulnerable

and courageous people;
2

•HRES 577 IH

Whereas UNHCR has fulfilled the mandate in Article 22 of

the United Nations Charter by assisting states to provide

protection and assistance to refugees around the world

and seeking durable solutions to their problems;

Whereas UNHCR has worked to ensure respect of refugees

basic human rights and adherence to the principle of

nonrefoulement, which prohibits the expulsion and return

of refugees to countries or territories where their lives or

freedom would be threatened;

Whereas the United States and its citizens have long welcomed refugees to our shores;

Whereas, although UNHCR’s responsibilities under its original mandate do not include internally displaced persons,

it plays a critical role in assisting and protecting internally displaced populations in many situations, particularly where refugees and internally displaced persons are

intertwined;

Whereas the heart of UNHCR’s mandate is protection, and

UNHCR must continue to emphasize protection in choosing durable solutions for refugees, including voluntary return, local integration in countries of first asylum, and

resettlement;

Whereas refugee women and children face special protection

and assistance needs and UNHCR must continue to emphasize their needs in its policy and program efforts;

Whereas, in collaboration with other international agencies

and nongovernmental organizations, UNHCR has shaped

policies on which the international community can agree

to move forward on peacefully resolving refugee situations;
3

•HRES 577 IH

Whereas under the leadership of High Commissioner Sadako

Ogata and her predecessors, UNHCR has made invaluable contributions for humanity by helping to promote

peace and respect for human rights for all uprooted peoples; and

Whereas UNHCR has twice been awarded the Nobel Peace

Prize for its service to humanity: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the United States House of

2 Representatives—

3 (1) recognizes and honors the United Nations

4 High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the

5 occasion of its 50th anniversary for its contributions

6 on behalf of the world’s refugees;

7 (2) expresses its support for the continued ef8 forts of UNHCR;

9 (3) affirms its support for international protec10 tion for the victims of persecution and human rights

11 abuse and durable solutions for refugees; and

12 (4) calls on the international community to

13 work together with UNHCR in efforts to ensure that

14 host countries uphold humanitarian and human

15 rights principles for refugees, to lessen the impact of

16 refugees on host countries, and to promote the safe

17 voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettle18 ment of refugees.

Æ