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Legal Protection
Using the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention as its major tool, UNHCR's core mandate is to ensure the international protection of 32.9 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.
Using the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention as its major tool, UNHCR's core mandate is to ensure the international protection of 32.9 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.
Global Consultations
Talks between the U.N. Refugee Agency, governments, NGOs and experts focusing on how States are interpreting and implementing the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Capacity-Building
Strengthening capacities is a core activity in the area of protection and is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of States to meet their international legal obligations to protect refugees.
Women
Refugee women and girls face particular difficulties, and UNHCR has developed special training and assistance programmes to help them meet these challenges.
The 1951 Refugee Convention
The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees is the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and the legal obligations of states. The 1967 Protocol removed geographical and temporal restrictions from the Convention. In July 2001, UNHCR published a special edition of its Refugees Magazine dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Convention. Read it in pdf format here (1.2MB)
Children
There are around 25 million young people uprooted in the world, many of them living in appalling conditions and subject to widespread abuse.
The 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention
Text of the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol.
More on our special pages: The 1951 Refugee Convention.
States Parties to the Convention
Countries which have acceded to the treaty.
Signing OnWhy should countries sign on to the Convention?
UNHCR Statute
UN General Assembly resolution establishing the High Commissioner’s Office for Refugees as of 1 January 1951.
Handbook for Determining Refugee Status and Guidelines on International Protection
Guides to procedures and criteria for the determination of refugee status
Resettlement
An alternative for those who cannot go home.
Statelessness
Life with no nationality.
An estimated 11 million people around the world are effectively trapped in a legal limbo. These forgotten people are not considered nationals by any country and are often denied enjoyment of their basic rights.
Internally displaced people
UNHCR's role and involvement with internally displaced people, currently estimated at 25 million worldwide.
Conclusions on International Protection
Conclusions adopted by ExCom on a wide range of legal and policy themes related to the international protection of refugees.
Notes on International Protection
UNHCR's annual reporting to ExCom and the General Assembly on international protection developments.
SCIP
Documents of the former Sub-Committee of the Whole on International Protection (SCIP). SCIP, along with the Sub-Committee on Administrative and Financial Matters (SCAF), was replaced by the Standing Committee in late 1995.