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December 8, 1997
Moderator: Kathleen Newland, Senior Associate, International Migration Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Panelist: Anne-Willem Bijleveld, Washington, D.C, Representative of the UNHCR
Kathleen Newland welcomed Mr. Bijleveld to the Carnegie Endowment and remarked that she was pleased to have him introduce the flagship publication, published every other year, of the UNHCR: The State of the World's Refugees: A Humanitarian Agenda. Since the last publication of The State of the World's Refugees two years ago, the UNHCR has faced new challenges and has engaged in soul-searching as it confronts ethnic cleansing and the political quiescence that all-too-often follows it.
Anne-Willem Bijleveld began by remarking that ten days earlier Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving in honor of the Pilgrims who fled religious persecution in England. Two days later would be the 49th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. Therefore, Mr. Bijleveld stressed, the world community should remember that refugees are also part of these observances and recognize their rights and contributions.
When one looks at the title of the publication, Mr. Bijleveld urged, one should realize that the book is about the world, not just about refugees. In addition to those who fall under refugee status based on strict definitions of international conventions, the UNHCR is today also concerned about stateless persons, internally displaced persons, and war-affected populations who have not been able to flee. Although the number of refugees has decreased in the last seven years, the end of the Cold War and the resulting flare-up of nationalist tensions have substantially increased the number of stateless and internally displaced persons. In the last few years, refugees have faced unprecedented levels of hostility and barriers to protection. For example, refugees can no longer count on staying in camps for safe haven as more and more states refuse to accept refugees outright. Moreover, the legal barriers that some rich states are erecting are particularly disheartening to refugees. The new expedited removal process in the United States, for instance, echoes the "Fortress Europe" mentality and sends the convoluted message to poorer states that if the richest and most capable states will not take refugees, the poorer states can hardly be expected to bear this "burden" either.
The UNHCR believes there are currently 25-30 million internally displaced people who are not protected under international legal instruments. Sovereign governments and non-governmental organizations must work together to help the internally displaced despite an apparent lack of political will. The UNHCR can neither stop wars nor enforce law and order, but since governments often fail to carry out these responsibilities, the UNHCR and NGOs have been drawn into untenable situations where their employees become targets of opposing factions.
Although Mr. Bijleveld acknowledged the pessimistic tone of his discussion, he pointed to the signing of the world landmine ban treaty and Mary Robinson's appointment as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as positive events for the humanitarian agenda. In conclusion, Mr. Bijleveld asserted that humanitarian principles such as asylum must not be forgotten.