[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 108 (Thursday, September 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
             UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

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                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2000

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to introduce a 
resolution which honors and recognizes 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. On 
December 14, 2000, UNHCR will mark a half-century of helping millions 
of the world's most vulnerable people. I am pleased that 
Representatives Benjamin Gilman, Sam Gejdenson, Christopher Smith, and 
Tom Lantos have joined me as original cosponsors on this legislation.
  UNHCR has been mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate 
international action for the world-wide protection of refugees and the 
resolution of refugee problems. It is one of the world's principal 
humanitarian organizations helping 23 million people in more than 140 
countries.
  Mrs. Sadako Ogata has served as the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees now for nearly 10 years. It is one of the toughest jobs 
and Mrs. Ogata has done a superb job of bringing both professionalism 
and compassion to the organization over her decade of service.
  This resolution also 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.
  I would urge my colleagues to adopt this legislation.

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