The U.N. General Assembly today voted to set up a High Commissioner’s office for refugees, to start operations in Geneva on January 1. G.J. Van Heuven Goedhart of Holland was named by the Assembly as the first High Commissioner.
The High Commissioner will provide international protection for refugees falling under his competence. He will promote the conclusion of international conventions or special agreements with governments, calculated to improve the situation of refugees. He will both assist in the voluntary repatriation of refugees, and help to promote their assimilation within new national communities. He will report annually to the General Assembly, which will decide, not later than at its 8th session, whether his office is to be continued beyond Dec. 31, 1953.
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