Prof. Walter Hallstein, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, this morning deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General the fifth instrument of ratification of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
The convention, adopted at a 26-nation conference in July 1951, needs one more ratification or accession to enter into force. It establishes minimum rights for refugees under the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, including the right to asylum, to work, to education, to public relief and to freedom of religion. It also establishes a procedure for issuance of travel documents to refugees.
Previously, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Luxembourg had ratified the convention. It will come into force 90 days after ratification or accession by six countries.
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