Ad Hoc Committee on Statelessness and Related Problems, Decisions of the Committee on Statelessness and Related Problems Taken at the Meetings of 3 February 1950

E/AC.32/L.28

Article 8 Exemption from reciprocity

Where rights and favours are accorded to foreigners generally, but are made subject to reciprocity for the purpose of securing corresponding rights and favours for nationals, those rights and favours shall not be refused to refugees.

Article 10 General obligations

Refugees must conform to all laws and regulations including measures taken for the maintenance of public order.

[Article 24]

First article

Each of the High Contracting Parties undertakes not to expel or return, in any manner whatsoever, refugees to the frontiers of territories where their life or freedom would be threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality or political opinions.

Second article

1. A refugee who is lawfully in the territory of any of the High Contracting Parties may not be expelled save on grounds of national security or public order in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with due process of law.

2. Such refugees shall be entitled, in accordance with the established law and procedure of the country, to submit evidence to clear themselves and to be represented before the competent authority.

3. The High Contracting Parties shall allow such refugees a reasonable period within which to seek legal admission into another country. During that period the High Contracting Parties reserve the right to apply such internal measures as they may deem necessary.

Third article

1. The High Contracting Parties undertake not to impose penalties, on account of their illegal entry or residence, on refugees who enter or who are present in their territory without prior or legal authorization, and who present themselves without delay to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry.

2. The High Contracting Parties undertake not to apply to such refugees restrictions of movement other than those which are necessary and such restrictions shall only be applied until such time as their status in the reception country is regularized or they obtain admission into another country; the High Contracting Parties shall allow such refugees a reasonable period and all the necessary facilities to obtain admission into another country.

Additional clauses

Article.... Housing accommodation

The High Contracting Parties undertake to accord to refugees who are lawful in their territory the most favourable treatment possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that given to foreigners generally, as regards housing accommodation in so far as this question is regulated by laws or regulations, or is subject to the control of governmental authorities.

Article ...

The High Contracting Parties shall not discriminate against refugees on account of their race or religion, or country of origin, or because they are refugees.

Article ...

1. The High Contracting Parties undertake in conformity with their laws and regulations concerning the import and export of currency to permit a refugee to transfer funds which he has brought into the territory of a High Contracting Parties to the territory of another High Contracting Parties where he has been admitted for the purposes of resettlement.

2. The High Contracting Parties shall give favourable consideration to the application of a refugee for permission to transfer currency to the territory of another High Contracting Parties where he has been admitted for the purposes of resettlement.