Some International Protection Issues Arising During the 1970s and 1980s with Particular Reference to the Role of the UNHCR Executive Committee

Abstract

Following a brief historical summary regarding the origins of the UNHCR of Executive Committee (ExCom) and its concern with international protection matters this article describes the action of ExCom in regard to International Protection during the 1970s and 1980s. During this period efforts were undertaken by UNHCR not only to address current protection problems but also to ensure that the principles of international protection were clarified, rendered more articulate and, when necessary, further developed. In carrying out these tasks UNHCR was greatly assisted by ExCom, whose Conclusions on international protection provided an important conceptual framework for UNHCR's action. The article concludes that it would not be correct to regard the action of the international community in adopting the United Nations refugee instruments and in establishing the Office of UNHCR as primarily related to the “Cold War”. Rather it was comparable to the action taken by the international community under the League of Nations to address the humanitarian needs of successive groups of refugees prior to the Second World War.