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The '''Convention relating to the Status of Refugees''' ('''CRSR'''), also known as the '''1951 Refugee Convention''', is a United Nations [[multilateral treaty]] that defines who is a [[refugee]], and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted [[Right of asylum|asylum]] and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. The Convention also sets out which people do ''not'' qualify as refugees, such as [[war crime|war criminals]]. The Convention also provides for some visa-free travel for holders of [[travel document]]s issued under the convention.
The '''Convention relating to the Status of Refugees''' ('''CRSR'''), also known as the '''1951 Refugee Convention''', is a United Nations [[multilateral treaty]] that defines who is a [[refugee]], and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted [[Right of asylum|asylum]] and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. The Convention also sets out which people do ''not'' qualify as refugees, such as [[war crime|war criminals]]. The Convention also provides for some visa-free travel for holders of [[travel document]]s issued under the convention.

The Convention builds on Article 14 of the [[Universal Declaration of human rights 1948]], which recognizes the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries,


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 23:31, 23 June 2015

Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (and protocol)
  parties to only the 1951 Convention
  parties to only the 1967 Protocol
  parties to both
  non-members
Signed28 July 1951 (13 January 1967)
LocationGeneva (Switzerland)
Effective22 April 1954 (4 October 1967)
Signatories19
PartiesConvention: 145[1]
Protocol: 146[2]
DepositarySecretary-General of the United Nations
LanguagesEnglish and French
(Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish)
Full text
1951 Refugee Convention at Wikisource

The Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (CRSR), also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention, is a United Nations multilateral treaty that defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. The Convention also sets out which people do not qualify as refugees, such as war criminals. The Convention also provides for some visa-free travel for holders of travel documents issued under the convention.

The Convention builds on Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of human rights 1948, which recognizes the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries,

History

The Convention was approved at a special United Nations conference on 28 July 1951 and entered into force on 22 April 1954. It was initially limited to protecting European refugees from before 1 January 1951 (after World War II), though states could make a declaration that the provisions would apply to refugees from other places. A 1967 Protocol removed the time limits and applied to refugees "without any geographic limitation", but declarations previously made by parties to the Convention on geographic scope were grandfathered.[3] (Although, like many international treaties, the Refugee Convention was agreed in Geneva,[4] it is incorrect to refer to it as "the Geneva Convention," because there are four treaties regulating armed conflict known as the Geneva Conventions.)

Denmark was the first state to ratify the treaty on 4 December 1952. As of July 2013 there were 145 parties to the Convention, and 146 to the protocol.[1][2][5] Most recently, the President of Nauru, Marcus Stephen, signed both the Convention and the Protocol on 17 June 2011[6][7] and acceded on 28 June 2011. Madagascar and Saint Kitts and Nevis are parties only to the Convention, while Cape Verde, the United States of America and Venezuela are parties only to the Protocol.

Definition of a refugee

Article 1 of the Convention as amended by the 1967 Protocol provides the definition of a refugee:

"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; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.."[8]

Several groups have built upon the 1951 Convention to create a more objective definition. While their terms differ to that of the 1951 Convention, the Convention has significantly shaped these new, more objective definitions. These include the Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa by the Organisation of African Unity and the 1984 Cartagena Declaration by a group of Latin American governments.

Responsibilities of States Parties to the Refugee Convention

In the general principle of international law, treaties in force are binding upon the parties to it and must be performed in good faith. Countries that have ratified the Refugee Convention are obliged to protect refugees that are on their territory, in accordance with its terms.[9]

There are a number of provisions that States who are parties of the Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol must adhere to. Among them are:

  • Cooperation With the UNHCR: Under Article 35 of the Refugee Convention and Article II of the 1967 Protocol, states agree to cooperate with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the exercise of its functions and to help UNHCR supervise the implementation of the provisions in the Convention.[9]
  • Information on National Legislation: parties to the Convention agree to inform the United Nations Secretary-General about the laws and regulations they may adopt to ensure the application of the Convention.[9]
  • Exemption from Reciprocity: The notion of reciprocity- where, according to a country's law, the granting of a right to an alien is subject to the granting of similar treatment by the alien's country of nationality- does not apply to refugees. This notion does not apply to refugees because refugees do not enjoy the protection of their home state.[9]

Innocence of refugees unlawfully entering the country of refuge

A refugee has the right to be free from penalties pertaining to the illegality of their entry to or presence within a country, if it can be shown that they acted in good faith- that is, if the refugee believes that there was ample cause for their illegal entry/presence, i.e. to escape threats upon their life or freedom, and if they swiftly declare their presence. This right is protected in Article 31:

"The Contracting States shall not impose penalties, on account of their illegal entry or presence, on refugees who, coming directly from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened in the sense of article 1, enter or are present in their territory without authorization, provided they present themselves without delay to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence. (Article 31, (1))

The principle of non-refoulement

A refugee's right to be protected against forcible return, or refoulement, is set out in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees:

"No Contracting State shall expel or return ('refouler') a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social or political opinion" (Article 33(1)).[9]

It is widely accepted that the prohibition of forcible return is part of customary international law. This means that even States that are not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention must respect the principle of non-refoulement.[9] Therefore, States are obligated under the Convention and under customary international law to respect the principle of non-refoulement. If and when this principle is threatened, UNHCR can respond by intervening with relevant authorities, and if it deems necessary, will inform the public.[9]

See also

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

References

  1. ^ a b "Chapter V – Refugees and Stateless Persons". United Nations Treaty Series. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Chapter V – Refugees and Stateless Persons". United Nations Treaty Series. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Treaty Series - Treaties and international agreements registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat of the United Nations" (PDF). 606 (8791). United Nations. 1970: 268. Retrieved 19 October 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ UNHCR: 1951 to Today
  5. ^ UNHCR: States Parties to the Convention and Protocol, retrieved 15 July 2010
  6. ^ "Nauru signs UN refugee convention". Radio New Zealand International. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Nauru's UN move on refugee convention adds to pressure on Labor", The Australian, 17 June 2011
  8. ^ United Nations High Commission for Refugees. (2012). Text of Convention. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference UNHCR Guide was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

External links

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