Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
Text of Treaty: english
Grounded in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, which recognises the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries, the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees came into force on 22 April 1954 and is the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and the legal obligations of states. The 1967 Protocol removed the geographic and temporal limits of the 1951 Convention, which was originally limited in scope to persons fleeing events occurring before 1 January 1951 and within Europe. The 1967 Protocol removed these limitations and gave the Convention universal coverage.
The Convention is both a status and rights-based instrument and is underpinned by a number of fundamental principles, most notably non-discrimination, non-penalisation and non-refoulement. The Convention stipulates that, subject to specific exceptions, refugees should not be penalised for their illegal entry or stay. The Convention also contains various safeguards against the expulsion of refugees. The principle of non-refoulement is so fundamental that no reservations or derogations may be made to it. It provides that no one shall expel or return a refugee against his or her will, in any manner whatsoever, to a territory where he or she fears threats to life or freedom.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is tasked with providing international protection to refugees who fall within the scope of the Statute and seeking durable solutions for the problem of refugees.
Further Sources
- International Rescue Committee
- The Swiss Portal – Political Asylum in Switzerland
- Swiss Asylum Procedure
- 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees
- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
Update: 19.08.2011
