[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 577 Introduced in House (IH)]



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;
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;
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 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 abuse and 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 and human rights principles for refugees, to 
        lessen the impact of refugees on host countries, and to promote 
        the safe voluntary repatriation, local integration, or 
        resettlement of refugees.
                                 <all>