Refworld is UNHCR's state-of-the-art, internet-based protection information system. It is a knowledge resource which facilitates quality, evidence-based and effective decision making in refugee status determination procedures. Over approximately 15 years, UNHCR has built up a wide patronage among users, including UNHCR protection officers and other staff, government decision makers, non-governmental organizations, the judiciary, private practitioners and academics. The system has proved vital for evidence-based advocacy for resettlement, internally displaced and stateless persons, migration, and various other protection concerns.

The information has been carefully selected and compiled in collaboration with UNHCR's global network of field offices, governments, international and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, judicial bodies and others.

Refworld website

Refworld online was launched by High Commissioner António Guterres on 14 June 2007, making the collections even more accessible and up-to-date. The website includes a professional and consistent design, vastly improved search functionality and navigation/browsing options, topic guides and specifically developed special features on core issues. Refworld includes multiple and advanced possibilities for browsing the collection of documents by region and/or country, by publisher, by topic/keyword and by document type. In addition, it has a powerful full text search engine and advanced search facilities. The complete contents of Refworld – including country reports, national legislation and case law, and all public domain UNHCR protection policies and guidelines – are now, for the first time, freely accessible to all UNHCR staff, external partners and the public at large.

Refworld is available at www.refworld.org.

Status Determination and Protection Information Section
Updated, June 2007