Home > What We Do > Protection > Legal Protection

Legal Protection

What We Do
© UNHCR / G. Amarasinghe

Legal Protection

Using the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention as its major tool, UNHCR's core mandate is to ensure the international protection of 31.7 million uprooted people worldwide. It promotes the basic human rights of refugees and that they will not be returned involuntarily to a country where they face persecution. It helps them to repatriate to their homeland when conditions permit, integrate into states of asylum or resettle in third countries. UNHCR promotes international refugee agreements, helps states establish asylum structures and acts as an international watchdog over refugee issues.

• DONATE NOW • • GET INVOLVED • • STAY INFORMED •

 

Global Consultations

The international community reaffirms its commitment to the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Legal and Protection Policy Research

The 1951 Refugee Convention

The Geneva Refugee Convention is almost 60 years old. It has been instrumental in helping an estimated 50 million people restart their lives.

UNHCR Statute

States Parties to the Convention and the Protocol

(As of 1 October 2008)

Signing on Could Make all the Difference

A brochure on the benefits to governments of accession to the Refugee Convention.

Handbook for Determining Refugee Status and Guidelines on International Protection Rss FeedHandbook for Determining Refugee Status and Guidelines on International Protection

more documents