Information Note on Solutions to the Refugee Problem and the Protection of Refugees

EC/SCP/62

1. After consultations with governments, it was decided last year that the subject "Solutions to the Refugee Problem and the Protection of Refugees" should be put to study and preliminary deliberations held. The examination of this subject would take into account the past and contemporary reality of the refugee problem and the current trend to approach the problem and its related aspect of solution from a broad legal perspective, taking into account recent developments in the field of human rights thinking and inter-state solidarity and co-operation.

2. The detailed background to this subject was set out in a Note (document EC/SCP/55) which was submitted to the Sub-Committee of the Whole on International Protection during the fortieth session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme in October 1989. That session of the Executive Committee decided, given the importance, scope and complexity of the issues involved and the need for their further in-depth study, as a first step, to call on the High Commissioner, in consultation with the Chairman of the Executive Committee, to convene an open-ended working group of members of the Executive Committee to examine protection and solutions in a coherent and comprehensive manner, bearing in mind the mandate of the High Commissioner, with a view to reporting to the Executive Committee at its forty-first session (see document A/AC.96/737).

3. It is intended that, in line with this decision, a preliminary organizational meeting of this open-ended Working Group will be convened in September 1990. This meeting will consider such questions as the Group's methods of work and future agenda and the timing, location and participation for its first substantive discussions. The arrangements for this first meeting will be communicated separately. A report will be made to the forty-first session of the Executive Committee on the outcome of the organizational meeting, to up-date the information contained in the present information note.