strictapplication ofthenotionof"country offirstasylum" whichhasledtoan increased incidence ofrejections attheborderandattempts toreturnrefugees to countries through whichtheyhavemerelytransited, andtheundulystrict interpretation oftheterm"refugee" asdefined inthe1951UnitedNations Refugee Convention andthe1967Protocol, coupled withtherequirement thatthe asylum-seeker discharge anundulyheavyburdenofproof. Thetendency notedin recentyearsforcertain Statestotreatasylumaspurelytemporary wasalso apparent duringthereporting period. 20.Therehasalsobeenacontinuing reluctance onthepartofsomeStatesto grantasylumtocertain groupsofrefugees outoffearofcompromising bilateral relations withtheircountry oforigin, especially iftheseareneighbouring countries. Suchconcern shouldnot,however, beofdecisive importance inviewof theuniversally accepted principle thatthegranting ofasylumisapeaceful and humanitarian actandthat,assuch,itshouldnotberegarded asunfriendly byany otherState.1/Itisobvious thatsuch,restrictive trends,ifallowed tocontinue andtointensify, willseriously erodetheconcept ofasylumandcausesubstantial andirreparable damagetothisessential humanitarian institution. 21.Finally,'mention shouldbemadeofadeveloping problem which,insomeparts oftheworld,couldhaveserious implications forasylum. Thisisthesteady build-up inthenumberofpersons inholding.centers inseveral countries forwhom· -5-n r c w a c 2 c pr a c se cl wh pr of Co Ob pe, th 23 in an Du th no st Pr Ca De in-re ob.. no 24. maj of !the Iiper.,ref im of cIa 25. ref the ins Conodurable solution bywayofvoluntary repatriation, localintegration or resettlement hasyetbeenfound. Someofthese"long-stayers" havebeenwaiting in campsforanumberofyears. Unlessappropriate solutions arefoundinaccordance withtheprinciple ofinternational solidarity andburden-sharing ctheremaybe adverse consequences forasylum, nottomention thesuffering ofthehumanbeings concerned. 2.Non-refoulement 22.Thefundamental importance oftheprinciple ofnon-refoplement asa cornerstone ofinternational protection hasbecomeuniversally recognized. The principle requires thatnopersonshallbesubjected tosuchmeasures asrejection atthefrontier, or,ifhehasalready entered theterritory, expulsion or compulsory returntoanycountry wherehemayhavereasontofearpersecution or serious dangerresulting fromunsettled conditions orcivilstrife. Aperson claiming tobearefugee sho~ldtherefore alsobeprotected against forcible return whilehisclaimtorefugee statusisbeingadjudicated. Theapplication ofthe principle ofnon-refoulement doesnot,ofcourse, presuppose theformalrecognition ofrefugee status. Itshouldberecalled, inthisconnection, thattheExecutive Committee atitstwenty-eighth session reaffirmed thefundamental importance ofthe observance oftheprinciple ofnon-refoulement ofpersons whomaybesubjected to pe~secution ifreturned totheircountry oforigin"irrespective ofwhether ornot theyhavebeenformerly recognized asrefugees".!I 23.Theprinciple ofnon-refoulement hasfoundexpression inanumberof international instruments adopted bothattheuniversal an.;attheregional levels andhasbeenincorporated inthenational legislation ofanumberofcountries. Duetoitsrepeated reaffirmation attheuniversal, regional andnational levels, theprinciple ofnon-refoulement hasnowcometobecharacterized asaperemptory normofinternational law.Duringthereporting period, theprinciple received strongendorsement attheregional level,attheColloquium ontheInternational Protection ofRefugees inCentral America, PanamaandMexico, whichmetin Cartagena, Colombia inNovember 1984.TheColloquium adopted the"Cartagena Declaration onRefugees" inwhichtheparticipating Statesunanimously concluded, interalia,thattheprinciple ofnon-refoulement was"imperative inregardto refugees andinthepresentstateofinternational lawshouldbeacknowledged and observed asaruleofjuscogens", i.e.an.overriding legalprinciple havinga
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the concept of asylum, refugee status, and the principles of non-refoulement and international protection. It highlights the challenges and concerns related to the treatment of refugees, including the restrictive trends and lack of solutions for long-staying refugees. The text also emphasizes the importance of international solidarity and burden-sharing in addressing these issues.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations