text: theirpredicament.,h:0 6.EConomic andsocialrights 41.Itisofcourseimportant thatrefugees begranted basicsocialandeconomic rights. Whererefugees havereceived durable asylum, thisisnecessary notonly forhumanitarian reasons butalsotofacilitate localintegration. Whererefugees havebeengranted asylumonlyonatemporary basis,'theenjoyment ofcertain social andeconomic rightsisnecessary ,inordertopreserve thehumandignity and self-respect ofrefugees, especially bybeingabletoengageinsomeproductive and .creatiye activity. 42.The1951UnitedNations Refugee Convention andthe1961Protocol provide fora rangeofaocialandeconomic rightsforrefugees. WhileStatesparties tothe Convention arepermitted tomakereservations totherelevant provisions -anda numberofStates, particularly butnotexclusively inthedeveloping world,havein factdoneso-thisdoesnotappeartobeadecisive element. Thus,inmanyof theseStatesrefugees areinfacttreated according tothestandards asdefined in theConvention whileStateswhichhavenotentered reservations mayfindit difficult tocomplywiththeobligations assumed duetotheabsence ofthe necessary economic andsocialinfrastructure. Inthelattersituat"ion UNHCR assistance programmes maybeusefulinhelping createthenecessary facilities whichmaybeofbenefit notonlytorefugees butalsotothelocalpopulation. 43.Itisencouraging tonotethatduringthereporting periodmanyStates continued toaccord, notonlytorecognized refugees butalsotoasylum-seekers -10- 'jtrn, .e ir A ome LJnd o tS ,al nd a in npending thedetermination oftheirstatus, adequate accesstosocialandeconomic facilities, insomeinstances evengoingbeyondtheminimum standards stipulated in the1951unitedNations Refugee Convention • 44.Asregards accesstogainful employment, thesituation forrefugees remained sUbstantially thesameasduringtheprevious reporting period. Whiletheirright toseekemployment wasgenerally recognized -andwassometimes specifically provided forinnational legislation -theactualpossibilities variedfromcountry tocountry, andwithincountries, fromregiontoregion. Current recessionary employment trendsinmanycountries havehadagenerally adverse impactonthe possibilities forrefugees toengageingainful employment. 45.Thetreatment ofrecognized refugees inmostdeveloped countries asregards accesstogainful employment remained atparwiththataccorded tonationals. In someofthesecountries, however, cultural andlinguistic barriers madeit difficult forrefugees tocompete onthelabourmarketforreduced job opportunities. Inpractice, refugees havealsofounditdifficult toobtainand retainemployment duetothefactthatemployers tendtogivepreference to nationals. Inafewcountries, refugees, whileformally permitted totakeup employment, foundthemselves ina"vicious circle" wheretheauthorities couldonly issuethemwithworkpermitsiftheyhadafirmjoboffer,whichprospective employers werereluctant tomakebeforetherefugees hadobtained aworkpermit. 46.Indeveloping countries, thepossibilities forrefugees tosecuregainful employment havecontinued tobeprecarious. Thefactthatthemajority ofthe world's refugee population remains concentrated inpoorercountries withextremely highlevelsofunderemployment orunemployment isamajorimpediment toefforts by refugees tobecomeeconomically self-supporting. Inonesuchhostcountry, for instance, notasinglerefugee foundemployment during1984andinanother host country, duringthesameperiod, therateofrefugee unemployment stoodat 90percent. 47.Thesituation withregardtoaccesstogainful employment forasylum-seekers whosestatusisstilltobedetermined variedfromcountry tocountry duringthe reporting period. Onthewhole,theirsituation tendedtobemorevulnerable and preca!ious thanthatofrecognized refugees. Whileinsomecountries asylum-seekers wereallowed toworkiftheycouldfindajob,inmanycountries suchpersons weregenerally deniedaccesstothelabourmarket, sometimes aspart ofapattern ofrestrictive measures designed todeterfurtherarrivals. Inone country alawwasadopted inmid-1984 underwhichasylum-seekers, withthe exception ofcertain categories, wereprohibited accesstogainful employment. 48.Asylum-seekers whoareprecluded fromtakingupemployment arefrequently obliged toapproach stateand/orprivate agencies formedical, socialand
analysis: The text primarily discusses the social and economic rights of refugees, including their access to employment, education, and healthcare. It highlights the challenges faced by refugees in finding employment, both in developed and developing countries, and the importance of providing them with basic social and economic rights. The text also touches on the role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in providing assistance to refugees.