Africa-Press – Angola. Angola proposed, yesterday, in the third commission of the UN General Assembly, the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The draft resolution adopted by acclamation on Friday seeks to expand the Executive Committee from 107 to 108 members. The document will be submitted to the General Assembly for approval next December.
Angola, as a State Party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, attaches particular importance to the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Available data show that, currently, close to 30,000 refugees and 16,000 asylum seekers are controlled in Angola.
Refugee citizens of more than 18 nationalities live in the country, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guinea, Mali and Eritrea.
According to the deputy permanent representative of the mission to the UN, Ambassador João Gimolieca, Angola presented the draft Resolution in item 57 of the agenda, concerning the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, humanitarian issues and related to refugees and displaced persons, to contribute its experience in managing refugees and internally displaced persons acquired over more than 30 years of internal armed conflict.
“The draft resolution recommends to the General Assembly the expansion of the Executive Committee from 107 to 108 States and requests the Economic and Social Council to elect Angola as its 108th member. Angola’s experience and commitment to refugee issues will increase contributions to the Executive Committee”, he stressed.
João Gimolieca said that Angola recognizes the efforts of Member States and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other interested parties, with a view to improving the situation of refugees and displaced persons in host communities, given the growing number in various parts of the world. .
According to the diplomat, Angola also recognizes the needs of vulnerable groups, in particular women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities, among refugees and displaced people, including the risks and dangers to which they are exposed.
Angola, he said, urges States and all interested parties to collaborate towards the common objective of fully implementing the Pact, in order to achieve all its objectives in an equitable manner and based on the principle of burden and responsibility sharing.
The Angolan diplomat stated that the country’s legislation on refugees and asylum seekers is based on the principle of the 1951 Convention, existing international law, human rights standards and treaties.
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