A/69/334 expressed deep distress over the situation in the region and described the continuing massive ethno-religious cleansing, indiscriminate killing and massacre as a humanitarian catastrophe of unspeakable proportions. Several countries have been affected by the violence. 63. In Southern Africa, foreign nationals are increasingly seen as competitors for scarce economic opportunities. This fuels xenophobia and has a negative impact on the protection environment for refugees and asylum seekers in the subregion. Consequently, UNHCR is looking for ways to address the issue of mixed migration. Violence against foreign-owned businesses continues to occur in the region, despite efforts to promote tolerance. Similar factors have led to the deterioration of public and official support for refugees and asylum seekers in the region. 64. The legal frameworks of some West African States contain discriminatory racial or ethnic requirements for acquisition of nationality, whic h breach the non-discrimination and equality provisions of several international and regional instruments. Those measures constitute a source of statelessness disproportionately affecting members of certain racial and ethnic groups. In addition, lack of b irth registration in West African countries affects undocumented migrants and refugees more than others, as the rates of registration for those groups are disproportionately low. UNHCR provided specific information on the legislation of some West African States. 65. With relation to Latin America and the Caribbean, UNHCR drew particular attention to the disproportionate impact of forced displacement on indigenous people and Afro-descendants. The organization noted positively the judgement of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the case of Pacheco Tineo Family v. Bolivia (2013), which was the Court’s first judgment relating specifically to refugees. Additionally, UNHCR approved of resolutions by member States of the Organization of American States during its forty-third General Assembly in June 2013. 66. The organization commended some States in North America for their large resettlement programmes. It also welcomed the fact that that, with the exception of one, all of the Central Asian States had now acceded to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. However, statelessness remains an issue of concern in Central Asia and has disproportionate effects on marginalized groups. 67. The lack of effective legal and normative frameworks governi ng international protection in the Asia and Pacific region compromises the protection opportunities for displaced persons who may be in need of international protection as a result of ethnic, racial or xenophobic persecution in their country of origin. In an environment that exposes refugees and asylum seekers to a host of human rights concern, racism and xenophobia feature prominently. Ensuring that humanitarian responses are not affected by the focus on border protection and deterrence remains a challenge. 68. Across Europe, the political discourse had recently become increasingly polarized because of a conflation of issues affecting foreigners, asylum seekers and refugees. Asylum seekers and refugees were often at risk of being victims of hate crimes owing their ethnicity, race, religion, nationality or legal status. In order to effectively protect and prevent hate crimes, appropriate national legislation should 12/17 14-59563