Ashgabat Declaration of the International Mi of the Organization
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10 Islam, human rights and displacement FMR Ashgabat Declaration of the International Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Refugees in The Muslim World 20-21 JUMADA AL-THANI 1433H (11-12 MAY, 2012) 1. We, the Ministers and Heads of 7. We value the generosity of the enabling the Azerbaijani refugees and Delegations of the Member States countries hosting large numbers the displaced to return to their homes in of the Organization of Islamic of refugees and acknowledge safety, honour and dignity and reaffirm Cooperation (OIC) gathered in the security, socio-economic and our total solidarity and our support Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on 11- environmental impact of the presence for the efforts undertaken by the 12 May 2012 at the International of large-scale refugee populations Government and people of Azerbaijan Ministerial Conference of the on these countries, and note with to this end. In this regard, we strongly Organization of Islamic Cooperation deep concern the declining levels demand the full implementation of the on Refugees in the Muslim World. of international assistance. relevant OIC, UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. 2. We recognize that over fourteen 8. We also reaffirm the OIC resolutions centuries ago, Islam laid down the concerning the Palestinian cause 10. We remain deeply concerned that and the Arab-Israeli conflict, and bases for granting refuge, which is too many refugee situations in the stress the need to resolve the issue of now deeply ingrained in Islamic OIC countries have become protracted Palestinian refugees in accordance faith, heritage and tradition. and need sustained and profound with international law and relevant engagement of the international 3. We express our deep concern international legitimacy resolutions, community and UN agencies to over the situation of refugees in the particularly United Nations General work in conjunction with UNHCR world, particularly that most of them Assembly Resolution 194 and the and other UN actors, as appropriate, are hosted by OIC Member States. Arab Initiative. We also reiterate that to resolve the refugees’ plight and the United Nations Relief and Works realize durable solutions consistent 4. We commend the contributions Agency (UNRWA) embodies the with international law and relevant of the OIC Member States in hosting international responsibility towards UN General Assembly resolutions. In refugees in their territories, which is Palestinian refugees as mandated by addition, we recognize the need to step reflected in the fact that the 57 OIC the United Nations General Assembly. up efforts to address the root causes of Member States host 10.7 Million In this regard we highly appreciate the refugee situations in accordance with refugees including 5 million Palestinian important role assumed by UNRWA in international law, while respecting refugees (based on figures provided alleviating the suffering of Palestinian the sovereignty of Member States by UNRWA). We also commend the refugees. We call on the international OIC Member States’ continued and community and the OIC Member 11. We reaffirm that voluntary steadfast commitment in providing States to respond to the appeals of repatriation remains the most preferable protection to refugees, taking into UNRWA and keep up their support solution to refugee situations, and call account their respective national until the achievement of the Palestinian upon countries of origin, countries of capabilities and domestic laws. refugees’ right to return to their homes. asylum, UNHCR and the international community as a whole to work 5. We note that the 1951 Convention 9. We recall OIC Resolution No. 10/38- together, to do everything possible relating to the Status of Refugees POL on “the Aggression of the Republic to enable refugees to exercise their of Armenia against the Republic of and its 1967 Protocol have enduring right to return to their homes. In this Azerbaijan” adopted at the thirty- value and relevance in the twenty-first context we call for political resolve eighth session of the Council of Foreign century. We also note the importance to re-double international efforts to Ministers and other relevant OIC of respecting the principles and values promote voluntary repatriation. that underlie these instruments. documents. In this context, we express our deep concern over the plight of 12. We welcome the positive steps 6. We recognize the social and more than one million Azerbaijani and efforts taken and achieved by humanitarian dimensions of the refugees and displaced people expelled Governments of some OIC countries problem of refugees, and the need from the occupied territories in and in fulfilling their duty to promote, to address its root causes, and urge around Nagorno-Karabakh region in a non-discriminatory manner, the international community to make of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and voluntary return of their citizens to efforts to prevent this problem from the magnitude and severity of these their countries in safety and dignity, becoming a source of tension. humanitarian problems. We call for and to provide them with assistance, Islam, human rights and displacement 11 FMR Ashgabat Declaration of the International Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Refugees in The Muslim World 20-21 JUMADA AL-THANI 1433H (11-12 MAY, 2012) support and security to ensure consultations among the governments respect the humanitarian efforts and their sustainable reintegration. We of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the sustained support extended by encourage other countries of origin to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the take similar measures in this regard. the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as issues of refugees worldwide and in facilitated by UNHCR and endorsed in the Islamic world in particular, and 13. We note with deep concern the the joint communiqué of the conference to the organizations concerned with wide gap between resettlement needs held in Geneva on 2-3 May 2012. refugees. We also express our thanks to and resettlement availabilities across We call for effective implementation the world, as well as the practice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of the Strategy, through enhanced selective resettlement criteria. We of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman and international cooperation, to promote encourage resettlement countries to the Islamic Development Bank for their voluntary repatriation and sustainable undertake effective, flexible and non- financial contributions in support of reintegration of Afghan refugees discriminatory use of this measure, successfully convening this Conference. in safety and dignity, in order to and urge UNHCR to pursue its resolve one of the largest and longest 19. We extend our gratitude work in close coordination with host protracted refugee situations in the to the Government and people countries, and report on resettlement world. of Turkmenistan for generously activities more regularly and actively. hosting the International Ministerial 14. We call upon the international We encourage exploring the possibility Conference of the Organization of community, in cooperation with of developing similar initiatives to Islamic Cooperation on Refugees UNHCR and other relevant promote voluntary repatriation in order in the Muslim World as well as for international organizations, to provide to address other protracted refugee sharing their successful experience in more resources to support and assist situations in the Muslim world. dealing with the issues of refugees and States which host refugees in line stateless persons in Turkmenistan. 17. We express our appreciation for with the principle of international the leadership shown by UNHCR and Adopted in Ashgabat on 12 May, 2012 solidarity, cooperation and burden- commend the Office for its ongoing sharing. We also reiterate that States, Text online at: http://www.oic-oci. efforts. We further commend the staff which are faced with a large-scale org/external_web/refugees/2012/ and implementing partners of UNHCR refugee influx, should receive assistance en/docs/ASHGABAT%20 for the competence, professionalism from the international community DECLARATION%20en.pdf and dedication with which they in accordance with the principles discharge their responsibilities. of equitable burden sharing. In this regard we call upon the 15. We appreciate the valuable international community to contribution of the OIC Member continue providing the necessary States and OIC- related financial assistance and financial support institutions in respect of refugees to enable UNHCR to continue and, in this regard, look forward to fulfilling its responsibilities. enhanced and timely contributions. 18. We express deep gratitude 16. We recall the OIC resolution to the Member States hosting No. 11/38 Pol adopted at the Thirty- refugees in spite of their limited eighth Session of the Council of the economic resources, in affirmation Foreign Ministers and other relevant of their noble Islamic values. OIC documents. We welcome the We acknowledge the donor “Solution Strategy for Afghan refugees Member States for their donations to support voluntary repatriation, to international and regional sustainable reintegration and assistance organizations active in the field to host countries”, developed through of refugees, and commend in this .