Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
Drafted	28 July 1951
Signed	28 July 1951
Effective	22 April 1954
Condition	Ratification by 6 states
Signatories	145
Parties	149
Languages	English, French, Chinese, Russian, Spanish

The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees is a key legal document that defines who is a refugee, their rights, and the legal obligations of states to protect them. It was adopted on 28 July 1951 and entered into force on 22 April 1954. The Convention was initially limited to protecting European refugees after World War II, but the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees removed these geographical and temporal restrictions.

Background

The aftermath of World War II left millions of people displaced across Europe. The international community recognized the need for a comprehensive framework to address the plight of refugees. The United Nations convened a conference in Geneva, Switzerland, which resulted in the drafting of the 1951 Convention.

Key Provisions

The Convention defines a refugee as a person who, "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country."

Rights of Refugees

The Convention outlines several rights for refugees, including:

• The right not to be expelled, except under certain, strictly defined conditions (Article 32).
• The right not to be punished for illegal entry into the territory of a contracting state (Article 31).
• The right to work (Article 17).
• The right to housing (Article 21).
• The right to education (Article 22).
• The right to public relief and assistance (Article 23).
• The right to freedom of religion (Article 4).
• The right to access the courts (Article 16).

Obligations of States

States that are parties to the Convention are obliged to:

• Cooperate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the exercise of its functions.
• Respect the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the expulsion or return of a refugee to territories where their life or freedom would be threatened.

1967 Protocol

The 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees expanded the scope of the 1951 Convention by removing the geographical and temporal limitations, thus making the provisions applicable to refugees worldwide.

Impact and Criticism

The Convention has been instrumental in providing protection to millions of refugees. However, it has faced criticism for being outdated and not addressing contemporary issues such as internally displaced persons and climate refugees.

Also see

• Refugee
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
• 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees
• Asylum seeker
• Non-refoulement