“The UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) established the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (ExCom) in 1958 [Resolution 672 (XXV)] and the governing body formally came into existence on January 1, 1959. A UN General Assembly resolution [1166 (XII)] had requested ECOSOC to establish an Executive Committee consisting of representatives of UN member states or members of any of the specialized agencies. Although established by ECOSOC, ExCom functions as a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly and its documentation is issued in a General Assembly series. ExCom’s report is submitted directly to the General Assembly for consideration in the Third Committee.
UNHCR’s Statute [Article 3] directs that the High Commissioner “shall follow policy directives given him by the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council.” ExCom does not substitute for the policy making functions of the General Assembly or ECOSOC but has its own executive and advisory functions. These include:
- To advise the High Commissioner in the exercise of his/her functions
- To review funds and programmes
- To authorize the High Commissioner to make appeals for funds
- To approve proposed biennial budget targets
The Executive Committee holds one annual session. This usually takes place in Geneva during the first half of October and lasts one week. ExCom’s Rules of Procedure are contained in document A/AC/96/187/Rev.6.”
UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, ExCom Mandate and Statute, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c86.html [Accessed 4 May 2013]
“The Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (‘ExCom’) was formally established by ECOSOC Resolution 672 (XXV) of 30 April 1958, at the request of the General Assembly (UNGA Res 1166 [XII] [26 November 1957]), to serve as the advisory committee foreseen in UNHCR Statute para. 4. ExCom functions as a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly and has both executive and advisory responsibilities. Originally comprising 25 States, ExCom has progressively enlarged its membership to 87 members as of today (→ International Organizations or Institutions, Membership). It consists of States that have demonstrated interest in refugee matters. These include States party to the main refugee treaties and/or important refugee hosting countries (see also → Host State Agreements). The election of ExCom members takes place through a process involving both ECOSOC and the General Assembly. ExCom submits the report of its annual session to the General Assembly, as an annex to UNHCR’s report.”
Feller, Erika and Anja Klug. 2008. “Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)” in Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, edited by Rudiger Wolfrum. www.mpepil.com, para, 21.
Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme (ExCom)
Currently made up of 87 members, UNHCR’s governing ExCom meets in Geneva annually to review and approve the agency’s programmes and budget, advise on international protection and discuss a wide range of other issues with UNHCR and its intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. ExCom’s Standing Committee meets several times each year to carry on the body’s work between plenary sessions.
UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, Executive Committee, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c83.html
“International protection is included as a priority theme on the agenda of each session of the Executive Committee. The consensus reached by the Committee in the course of its discussions is expressed in the form of Conclusions on International Protection (ExCom Conclusions). Although not formally binding, they are relevant to the interpretation of the international protection regime. ExCom Conclusions constitute expressions of opinion which are broadly representative of the views of the international community. The specialist knowledge of ExCom and the fact that its Conclusions are taken by consensus add further weight.”
Refworld, Conclusions on International Protection, http://www.refworld.org/type/EXCONC.html
[Accessed 3 May 2013]
“ExCom Conclusion No. 47 (XXXVIII) – 1987 – Refugee Children
The Executive Committee,
(d) Stressed that all action taken on behalf of refugee children must be guided by the principle of the best interests of the child as well as by the principle of family unity;
(k) Noted that while the best durable solution for an unaccompanied refugee child will depend on the particular circumstances of the case, the possibility of voluntary repatriation should at all times be kept under review, keeping in mind the best interests of the child and the possible difficulties of determining the voluntary character of repatriation;”
-UN High Commissioner for Refugees, A Thematic Compilation of Executive Committee Conclusions, 6th edition, June 2011, June 2011, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4f50cfbb2.html [accessed 4 May 2013]
“The Conclusions are one way in which the international refugee protection regime, with the 1951 Convention and its Protocol at its heart, continues to be nurtured and developed and made relevant in the face of contemporary challenges to human dignity and security. There is need for all stakeholders to share how they are using the ExCom Conclusions.”
-Deschamps, Bryan and Rebecca Dowd. 2008. “Review of the Use of UNHCR Executive Committee Conclusions on International Protection.” UNHCR Policy Development and Evaluation Service. PDES/2008/3, para. 101. http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendocPDFViewer.html?docid=487b672d2&query=Rebecca%20Dowd. (accessed 20 May 2013)
Deschamps, Bryan, Report of the Evaluation Team, “Review of the Use of the Executive Committee Conclusions on International Protection,” Informal Consultation Meeting, 8 June 2008 http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendocPDFViewer.html?docid=483d701f2&query=Rebecca%20Dowd.
UNHCR ExCom website: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c83.html
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, A Thematic Compilation of Executive Committee Conclusions, 6th edition, June 2011, June 2011, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4f50cfbb2.html [accessed 4 May 2013].
International Council of Voluntary Agencies, Database of ExCom Conclusions. https://icvanetwork.org/doc00001404.html
Forced Migration Current Awareness Blog. http://fm-cab.blogspot.ca/2010/11/using-excom-conclusions-on.html
Barutciski, Michael. 2010. “Observations on EXCOM’s 60th Session (2009): Does UNHCR Need (More) EXCOM Conclusions?” Refuge 27(2): 133-141.
Bogdandy, Armin von, Rudiger Wolfrum, Jochen von Bernstorff, Philipp Dann and Matthias Goldmann (eds.). 2010. The Exercise of Public Authority by International Institutions: Advancing International Institutional Law. London: Max Planck Institute.
Deschamps, Bryan and Rebecca Dowd. 2008. “Review of the Use of UNHCR Executive Committee Conclusions on International Protection.” UNHCR Policy Development and Evaluation Service. PDES/2008/3.
ExCom Conclusions and Process, 2008-2012, Ways Forward on ExCom Conclusions, http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendocPDFViewer.html?docid=484e3e002&query=ExCom%20Conclusions. (accessed 20 May 2013)
Feller, Erika and Anja Klug. 2008. “Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)” in Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law, edited by Rudiger Wolfrum. www.mpepil.com.
Jackson, Ivor C. 2008. “Some International Protection Issues Arising During the 1970s and 1980s with Particular Reference to the Role of the UNHCR Executive Committee.” Refugee Survey Quarterly 27(1):30-39.
Loescher, Gil. ed. 2001.The UNHCR and World Politics: A Perilous Path. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lewis, Corinne. 2005. “UNHCR’s Contribution to the Development of International Refugee Law: Its Foundations and Evolution.” International Journal of Refugee Law 17(1):67-90.
Lewis, Corinne. 2012. UNHCR and International Refugee Law: From Treaties to Innovation. New York: Routledge.
Steiner, Niklaus, Gibney, Mark, Loescher, Gil. eds. 2003. Problems of Protection: The UNHCR, Refugees, and Human Rights. London: Routledge.
Sztucki, Jerzy. 1989. “The Conclusions on the International Protection of Refugees Adopted by the Executive Committee of the UNHCR Programme.” International Journal of Refugee Law 1(3): 203.
Warburton, Jane. 2004. “Building Safer Organisations.” Refugee Survey Quarterly 23, no. 2:20-29.