Legal publications, 1 January 1996
Voluntary repatriation, local integration, resettlement, the three key solutions.
(As of 1 October 2008)
A team of international experts has undertaken a worldwide review of UNHCR's efforts to protect refugee children
Learn about WLL; what we do, how we work and how to join us.
Published October 2008
Frequently asked questions about IDPs. [pdf, 1.3Mb]
A Dialogue that examined the challenges of protecting refugees and mixed migratory flows.
United Nations Development Fund for Women: Working for Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality.
Link to this valuable collection of practical tools, policies and research materials on gender and humanitarian action compiled by UN agencies and non-governmental organisations.
Links to UN and NGO websites and documents illustrating the role of women in conflict and peacebuilding.
Links to websites and documents on gender maintreaming
The guiding principles seek to ensure that all actions and decisions taken concerning separated children are anchored in a protection framework and respect the principles of family unity and the best interests of the child.
Read more about the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention in July 2001, and its continuing relevance.
Read more about internally displaced persons in Refworld.
The treaty was 50 years old in July 2001. Despite growing controversy about its usefulness, the Convention continues to be the key document in the agency's efforts today to help around 34 million uprooted persons.
"A Practical Guide to Empowerment" – UNHCR series produced by the Refugee Women/Gender Equality Unit to demonstrate and disseminate successful gender mainstreaming practices.
Special news editorial from UNHCR
The key document to refugee protection plus the text of the Protocol, which removed a deadline and geographical restrictions from the Convention.
Education is a fundamental right of the child, one that is vital in restoring hope and dignity.
The international community reaffirms its commitment to the 1951 Refugee Convention.
Published February 2009 [pdf, 2.3Mb]
UNHCR's state-of-the-art decision-support tool for country of origin research and refugee status decisions.
A special UN meeting to review a decade of work in helping the world's victimised children and discuss future projects was held May 8-10 2002. The outcome document, 'A World Fit for Children' outlines a strong focused agenda for the present decade.
The divergent perspectives of children and adults regarding violence against children in refugee settlements in western Uganda (pdf, 4.9Mb)
The UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence against Children was a global effort to paint a detailed picture of the nature, extent and causes of violence against children, and to propose clear recommendations for action to prevent and respond to it.
Addressing the specific needs of internally displaced persons worldwide by identifying rights and guarantees relevant to their protection.
Statement by Ms. Erika Feller, Director of the Department of International Protection, to the 52nd Session of the Executive Committee.
Special issue on the 50th anniversary of the Refugee Convention
Held in Geneva, 27-29 March 2001
(As at 1st January 2008)
UNHCR's leadership role in Protection, Emergency Shelter, and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM).
(External link)
An essential companion for those involved in EU migration and asylum issues.
Summaries of UNHCR's programme goals, objectives and priorities for each of its country operations.
A study of the implementation of the qualification directive, published November 2007
Held in Geneva, 20-22 June 2001
More useful information on IDPs.
Illustrated report on the 10 December, 2007 meeting.
Targeted initiatives to empower women in post-conflict societies
UNHCR is mapping the real state of people of concern through a Global Needs Assessment.
A report on participatory assessments carried out with refugee and returnee children in Southern Africa, 2005-2007.
The first global overview of UNHCR's progress towards compliance with the accountability actions for age, gender and diversity mainstreaming and associated targets.
Published by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), September 2005 (pdf, 876 Kb)
The key document on refugee protection in full, plus the text of the Protocol
By working with governments and other organizations on subjects ranging from promoting asylum systems to refugee advocacy, UNHCR promotes the legal protection of refugees and durable solutions.
Countries which have acceded to the treaty.
Introduction, general, the basic principle: mainstreaming/integration, organizational goals, policy objectives, operational objectives.
A mechanism to enhance partnership between UNHCR, Governments and NGOs
A brochure on the benefits to governments of accession to the Refugee Convention.
A brochure on steps needed for a government to sign on to the Refugee Convention.
Tools and strategies to strengthen the capacity of states to receive and protect refugees. This project is now active across five continents.
UNHCR has developed a network of suppliers, specialists and partners to protect civilians.
This brochure is designed for young readers.
Edited by Erika Feller, Volker Türk and Frances Nicholson, published 2003 by Cambridge University Press
The protection of millions of uprooted or stateless people is UNHCR's core mandate.
Read the comprehensive report, "Protracted Refugee Situations: High Commissioner's Initiative"
Also available in French.
The next High Commissioner's Dialogue on Protection Challenges will take place on 9-10 December 2009 in Geneva and focus on people of concern to UNHCR in urban settings.