Agenda for Protection (Third Edition) - PoA-ISS

AGENDAFORPROTECTIONdoes not address all protection problems facing refugees today;but it does focus on those issues and activities that wouldbenefit from multilateral commitment and cooperation. Whileconfirming certain policy directions and guiding operationalplanning for UNHCR, the Agenda also calls on governmentsand partner organizations to do their part in upholding andstrengthening the international protection regime.The Agenda consists of two sections: the Declaration of StatesParties and a Programme of Action. The Declaration wasadopted at the conclusion of the December 2001 MinisterialMeeting of States Parties to the 1951 Convention relating tothe Status of Refugees and/or its 1967 Protocol. In adopting theDeclaration, States Parties reaffirmed the validity of the 1951Convention and pledged to meet their obligations under thetreaty and to uphold the values and principles embodied in theConvention and its 1967 Protocol. In effect, the Declarationunderpins the entire Programme of Action.The Programme of Action identifies specific objectives andactivities grouped according to six inter-related goals:strengthening implementation of the 1951 Convention and its1967 Protocol; protecting refugees within broader migrationmovements; sharing burdens and responsibilities moreequitably and building capacities to receive and protectrefugees; addressing security-related concerns moreeffectively; redoubling the search for durable solutions forrefugees; and meeting the protection needs of refugee womenand children. All of the goals are equally important. Certainthemes, such as burden-sharing and improving protection ofrefugee women and children, run throughout the entireAgenda.10