Vatican official calls on UNHCR to improve situation of refugees
(Oct.06,2010) The Year 2011, will mark the 60th anniversary of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and its rules impose the duty to improve the situation of refugees, said Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the U.N. and other International Organisations in Geneva on Tuesday. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Apostolic Nuncio told the 61st session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, that in keeping with the rules of the Convention, refugees and persons needing and desiring international protection, are within the competence of the UNHCR, to seek solutions for them. The prelate said his delegation would further welcome the adoption of an Executive Committee Conclusion about persons of concern with disabilities. He also encouraged the UNHCR to address the problems of birth registration for people of concern. He said the Holy See regrets the practice of detention to asylum seekers and this is particularly lamentablewhen it results in the separation of families, or the detention of children..
In conclusion, Archbishop Tomasi told the UNHCR to reduce the number of refugees seeking protection. Such a reduction, he said, can only come about through the recognition, defence and fostering of human rights, be they political, social, cultural or economic. This way of avoiding destructive conflicts and of safeguarding the dignity of every person, is the only way to promote the common good in any country and in the global community and the best prevention of forced displacement, he stressed.
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