General Assembly General Assembly

 Statement by Mr. Rahul Kaswan, Hon'ble Member of Parliament and Member of Indian Delegation, on Agenda Item 65 - Report of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Questions Relating to Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons and Humanitarian Questions at the Third Committee of the 70thSession of the United Nations General Assembly on 4th November, 2015.

 

 

Mr. Chair, 
 
It is matter of grave concern that forced displacement is more widespread, protracted, complex and on a global scale than ever before.60 million people were  in situations of forced displacement by the end of 2014, of these 13.9 million people had been displaced in 2014 alone. Of even more concern is the fact that 51 per cent of these were children under the age of 18. 
 
Escalation in violence and armed conflicts in various regions, natural disasters and epidemics, acts of persecution and discrimination have aggravated the situation of forced displacement. Poverty adds to the current flows, but only to a marginal extent.
 
The global refugee crisis is testing the limits of the global response. There is, very evidently, no substitute to a concerted and coordinated response on the part of the international community. 
 
Mr. Chair,
 
We appreciate the role played by UNHCR in collaborating with Member States and the work done in providing protection and assistance to refugees and displaced persons according to its mandate.We note the launch of the 'Global Strategy-beyond detention' (2014-15) and related positive developments.
 
We agree that finding durable solutions for refugees and displaced people is the best form of protection. To this end, developing countries, which now host 86% of today's refugees, compared to 77% ten years ago, need assistance to handle the burden of hosting refugees and be in a position to receive returning refugees.This is a must if we are not to see a shrinking of asylum space traditionally offeredby developing countries.
 
As for the issue of security, we could not agree more with the High Commissioner on the need for intensified efforts to focus on the safety and security of refugees.Focus should also be on the challenges posed by non-state actors, who need to be brought in to assist with the humanitarian framework. Most of all, it is necessary to safeguard mixed movement at the sea, in accordance with international humanitarian principles and law.
 
Mr. Chair, 
 
The primary responsibility to look after the IDPs lie with the national authorities.UNHCR and relevant international action should remain within the bounds of the concept of sovereignty, which should not be diluted in any manner. Such action should, therefore, only be at the request of the country concern. 
 
Mr. Chair,
 
As a country of origin, transit and destination, we believe that curbing illegal migration requires a comprehensive response, including meaningful opportunities for legal migration.    However, one needs to exercise caution in mixing up asylum seekers with migrants as the apprehensions of one should not be superimposed on the other.
 
Mr. Chair,
 
India's commitment to humanitarianism is second to none. We are host to a large number of refugees and our programmes relating to them are managed entirely from our own resources. We have clearly demonstrated at all times our abiding commitment to the principles of protection and non-refoulement. India, as a member of UNHCR's Executive Committee, has been participating regularly in institutional meetings of UNHCR at all levels in a constructive and in a collaborative manner.
 
India remains committed to working in concert with UNHCR and the international community to address the present and emerging challenges on the international protection agenda in a spirit of solidarity.
 
Thank You.