Launching the Handbook for Parliamentarians on International Refugee Law on 10 April, in the course of the 108th Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), parliamentarians and representatives of the OOffice of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) emphasised the importance of ensuring that States join forces to guarantee protection and assistance for refugees and displaced persons, particularly in the light of current events.

Senator Sergio Páez, President of the IPU Council, drew attention to the importance of the Handbook as "... an essential tool for parliamentarians, because as the lawful representatives of popular sovereignty we must place human dignity at the core of our concerns. One of the fundamental mechanisms for defending personal rights is to protect refugees and endorse any legal initiatives that contribute to solving their basic needs and problems."

Senator Andrés Zaldívar, President of the Chilean Senate and of the IPU's Conference, emphasised the role performed by UNHCR.

"It is very sad that, at a time when countries are investing thousands of millions of dollars in weaponry, UNHCR is finding it difficult to cover a modest budget which benefits almost 20 million people throughout the world."

UNHCR expressed its thanks for the recent donation from the Chilean government for its humanitarian programmes in Iraq and other programmes it is implementing. Currently, UNHCR has more than 200 national and international officials working in 15 offices in the region covering Iraq and neighbouring States. Ever since the onset of the conflict, it has been stressing the need for access to the borders. So far, the Office has devoted almost US$ 30 million to providing initial assistance to some 350,000 people, but has only received one-fifth of the US $154 million needed for this operation.

Raising sufficient funds for humanitarian operations is not the only challenge, however. Protecting individuals is primarily a matter of preventing the root causes, such as intolerance and human rights violations, which create widespread population displacements. "When this is not the case, the victims must be able to find the security they need in another country," said UNHCR Regional Representative, Agni Castro-Pitar. "Hence the need, in situations of the kind we are presently witnessing, for countries to keep their doors open," adding that "once conflicts are over, the international community must work on building up an area of coexistence that will make it possible to establish lasting peace".

"The Handbook brings out the essential role which national parliaments are required to perform to assist victims of persecution and intolerance, and enables parliamentarians to bring pressure to get national refugee policies adopted," said Anders Johnsson, IPU Secretary-General.

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, the IPU, the oldest multilateral organisation, currently has 145 affiliated national parliaments and five regional assemblies as associate members. The organisation of the world's parliaments also has a Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York.
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Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Tel. +4122 919 41 16/27 Fax: +4122 919 41 60, 919 41 97 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org