Trinidad and Tobago: signs refugee convention & protocol

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Kris Janowski – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

10 November 2000

Trinidad and Tobago on November 2nd became the 140th country to sign the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol - the foundations of international refugee law.

Until now, Trinidad and Tobago had not instituted legal provisions for refugees to seek protection from persecution, but handled requests for asylum on a case-by-case basis. Accession to the Convention will assist the government in determining refugee status and will help ensure that refugees in need of protection are treated according to international standards.

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