Внеуставная деятельность УВКБ ООН: содействие защите перемещенных лиц

Abstract

The article describes the UNHCR's extra-mandate activity concerning one category of forced migrants—displaced persons. The author shows that the institution of displaced persons has under-gone a considerable evolution. Whereas during World War II and in the period immediately following it, "displaced persons" meant mainly external migrants—people deported by the fascist authorities; beginning with the 60s—70s this term principally denotes people moved within a country as a result of ethnic conflicts and ecological disasters. As the citizens of that country they did not need legal protection; that is why international assistance to these persons assumed emergency character. The UNHCR, talking into account their specific status and driven by humanist considerations, began to apply special forms of rendering assistance to such persons: 1) promoting integration into the socio-economic system of the state of citizenship because with the absence of economic and political stability this state could not guarantee them protection; 2) assistance only with the consent, constant consultations and coordination of its activities with the authorities of this state. The article explores the particulars of the UNHCR rendering assistance to internally displaced people at the example of the principles and methods used by the UNHCR in the CIS countries. As the main method of rendering help to forced migrants in the CIS countries the UNHCR chose holding a regional conference addressing the issues of refugees, internally displaced persons and other types of forced migration of population. The article describes the stages of preparation and organization of the conference, analyses the content of the Action Programme and the Declaration on the Principles adopted by the conference with the special focus on the actions recommended in the Programme regarding persons moved within the country. The author draws a conclusion about the UNHCR's extra-mandate activities being multifunctional and flexible, with specific methods and forms of assistance to forced migrants applied depending on the particular situation in the country of asylum.