Refugee issues under the magnifying glass
The Executive Committee of UNHCR held its 56th session in Geneva from 3 to 7 October 2005.
Finnish delegation in their morning meeting
The Executive Committee is the highest decision-making organ of UNHCR, convening once a year in October to deal with matters related to the operation of the organization, mainly international protection, the budget and administrative issues. During the session, the member states also put forward their views about the state of the organization and provide guidelines for its future activities.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, who took office in June, opened the session. In his speech, he underlined that protection is UNHCR's most important challenge now that, in modern societies, the rise of populism has increased intolerance. Asylum-seekers are in some places erroneously confused with criminals and terrorists.
The ExCom in session
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland participated in the meeting, too. In his speech, Secretary-General Annan reiterated the outcome of the UN Summit of September and its impacts on the reform of the UN system and its humanitarian sector.
Egeland took part in a special panel discussion on internally displaced people (IDP). The panel highlighted the fact that IDPs receive very little help from the international community considering their needs, and it was hoped that, in the framework of a joint initiative within the UN, an operational system could be set up as soon as in 2006 to improve the predictability of the support required for IDP situations. Darfur was mentioned as an example of situations that must never happen again. It was noted, however, that the issue must not distract attention or take away resources from the traditional UNHCR refugee operations.
The Executive Committee approved the Conclusions of the Summit, concerning supplementary forms of protection and local integration. The first-mentioned item reviews the situations of persons who are not covered by the Refugee Convention of 1951, but who are in need of international protection. The other item is one of the three permanent solutions to refugee situations. The Executive Committee also decided to set up a post of Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees in charge of protection issues. The objective is to strengthen the organization's protection activities in the field and to mainstream protection to all work of UNHCR. In addition, a decision was made to enhance the independence of the Office of the Inspector General.
Finland in the ExCom
Finland’s address to the meeting was given by Ambassador Vesa Himanen. He emphasized the support of Finland to strengthen UNHCR´s protection capacity. Finland also took note of the special needs of refugee women and children and supported UNHCR’s work to their benefit.