H. Res. 577

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

October 10, 2000.

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 22,000,000 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;

Whereas UNHCR continues to fulfill its mandate, as adopted

by the United Nations General Assembly on December

14, 1950, to provide international protection to refugees

and persons seeking asylum and to seek 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,
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it plays a critical role in assisting and protecting internally displaced populations in many situations, particularly where refugee and internally displaced populations

are mixed;

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 vulnerable refugees, particularly women, children,

and the elderly, 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;

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

Resolved, That the United States House of

Representatives—

(1) recognizes and honors the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the occasion of
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its 50th anniversary for its contributions on behalf of

the world’s refugees;

(2) expresses its support for the continued efforts

of UNHCR;

(3) affirms its support for international protection

for the victims of persecution and human rights violations and for the achievement of durable solutions for

refugees; and

(4) calls on the international community to work together with UNHCR in efforts to ensure that host countries uphold humanitarian principles and the human

rights of refugees, to lessen the impact of refugees on

host countries, and to promote the safe voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement of refugees.

Attest:

Clerk.