Continuation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

A/RES/37/196

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

Recalling its resolution 32/68 of 8 December 1977, in which it decided to review, not later than at its thirty-seventh session, the arrangements for the Office of the High Commissioner with a view to determining whether the Office should be continued beyond 31 December 1983,

Recalling further its resolutions 1166 (XII) of 26 November 1957 and 1673 (XVI) of 18 December 1961 and Economic and Social Council resolution 672 (XXV) of 30 April 1958 on the establishment of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

Recognizing the great continuing need for international action on behalf of refugees and displaced persons of concern to the High Commissioner,

Expressing its concern at the persistence and gravity of the problems of refugees and displaced persons of concern to the High Commissioner in all parts of the world, particularly in different parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America,

Considering the valuable work that has been accomplished by the Office of the High Commissioner in providing international protection and assistance to refugees and displaced persons of concern to the High Commissioner and in promoting permanent solutions to their problems,

1. Decides to continue the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for a further period of five years from 1 January 1984;

2. Requests the High Commissioner to continue to discharge his basic functions of protection, assistance and the promotion of durable solutions in accordance with the statute of the Office and the relevant General Assembly resolutions;

3. Invites the High Commissioner to continue to report to and be guided by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the High Commissioner in accordance with the Committee's terms of reference and its decisions, as set forth in General Assembly resolution 1166 (XII) and Economic and Social Council resolution 672 (XXV);

4. Reiterates that the responsibilities of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the High Commissioner shall continue to cover the determination of the general policies by means of periodic review of programmes, operations, management and activities under which the High Commissioner shall plan, develop and administer the programmes and projects;

5. Urges, in this regard, the Executive Committee of the Programme of the High Commissioner, when fulfilling the functions and the responsibilities entrusted to it by the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, to ensure the efficient use of funds and to give special attention to the successful administration and management of programmes;

6. Takes note of the efforts already made by the High Commissioner to adapt the management of his services to their vastly increased tasks and invites him to undertake his efforts in accordance with the principles and guidelines set by the General Assembly, and in the light of the guidance given to him by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the High Commissioner;

7. Decides to review, not later than at its forty-second session, the arrangements for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with a view to determining whether the Office should be continued beyond 31 December 1988.