The Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) on Indo‐Chinese refugees: Prospects for the post‐CPA and implications for a regional approach to refugee problems.

Abstract

The Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA), adopted in Geneva in June 1989, aimed at resolving the long‐standing problem of the Vietnamese Boat People (VBP) in South‐East Asia. It was a unique arrangement which dealt with all aspects of the VBP situation. It instituted individual status determination of asylum‐seekers in the countries and territories concerned, changing the position which hitherto recognised all arriving VBPs as refugees. First‐asylum countries in South‐East Asia had no existing refugee legislation and were introduced to the refugee criteria of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto, with emphasis on other international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and on the special circumstances of the asylum‐seekers.

There is merit in comprehensive approaches to refugee problems and other successful examples exist in the contexts of Central America, Southern Africa, and Europe. These experiences should be utilised in formulating solutions to refugee problems in other parts of the world.

Notes

The views and ideas contained in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR or of the United Nations system. The assistance of Mr. Arvind Gupta, UNHCR Legal Officer, is gratefully acknowledged.