UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF LITHUANIAN POLITICAL SOLIDARITY AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN CONFLICT ZONES
“Your political solidarity during crisis is highly valued and appreciated,” – A. Guterres noted.
A.Guterres suggested to acknowledge and to use Lithuanian experience with providing humanitarian assistance in UNHCR activities.
R. Paulauskas highlighted close cooperation between Lithuanian institutions and UNHCR office in Stockholm as well as its representatives in Vilnius.
Ambassador introduced UN Commissioner with the main priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU among which was the strengthening of the EU external border control.
The matters of the protection of the rights of the refugees and asylum seekers within the area of social and health security as well as the improvement of the shelter reception procedures were also discussed during the meeting.
It has been agreed to utilize the experience of the bureau in order to engage civic society with the matter of refugees and asylum seekers more actively.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Office, which was founded in 1950 on behalf of UN General Assembly request, is appointed to coordinate the international protection of refugees to assure their rights.
According to the Geneva office of UNHCR, there are over 42,5 million refuges around the world and over 27,5 million of internally displaced people.
