25 September 2000

Versoix, Switzerland - The International Council of Voluntary Agencies has published the views of candidates for the post of UN High Commissioner for Refugees on why they are interested in the position. The responses are compiled in a special issue of the ICVA newsletter Talk Back.

Letters were sent to candidates asking for their views on the challenges facing UNHCR and refugee protection. Responses range from written reactions to verbal responses, such as Dr. Bernard Kouchner's, "I have been in the humanitarian world for 30 years and that's enough."

The publication of the responses is the latest effort by NGOs to open up the selection process for the UNHCR and to ensure that substantive criteria are considered when choosing one of the most influential positions in the humanitarian community.

The need to ensure a more transparent and accountable selection process is even more crucial in today's environment. UNHCR, as the agency mandated to protect refugees, is increasingly faced with restrictive measures imposed by governments that threaten the refugee protection regime. Difficult issues confront UNHCR, such as the mandate for internally displaced persons, and declining financial resources. The next HCR must have the necessary qualifications and experience required to meet the challenges facing the agency.

The special issue of Talk Back contains reactions from: Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, Lloyd Axworthy; Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to the Balkans, Carl Bildt; Italian Member of the European Parliament, Emma Bonino; Jordanian Prince Hassan; Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Kosovo, Dr. Bernard Kouchner; Italian Senator Gian Giacomo Migone; Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Søren Jessen-Petersen; Dutch Minister Jan Pronk; Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for East Timor and Head of the Mission, Sergio Vieira de Mello; former Norwegian Foreign Minister, Knut Vollebæk, and Ambassador Maxime-Léopold Zollner de Medeiros from Benin.

Copies of the candidates' responses have been sent to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who will appoint the next HCR following consultations, which thus far have been limited to governments.

The special issue of Talk Back (Volume 2-5) is available on ICVA's website: www.icva.ch, via e-mail: talkback@icva.ch, or via fax.

Contact:
Manisha Thomas, ICVA Information Officer
Tel: +41 22 950 9600; Mobile tel: +41 79 253 5811; E-mail: manisha@icva.ch