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The 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees

The 1951 UN Convention on refugees is the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and the legal obligations of states. It also defines a refugee's obligations to host governments.

This first instrument was limited to protecting mainly European refugees in the aftermath of World War II, but a 1967 Protocol expanded the scope of the Convention as the problem of displacement spread around the world.

Since the Convention was drawn up, a total of 145 states - including the UK, which became a signatory in 1954 - have acceded to one or both of the U.N. instruments. In the subsequent decades, the document has been the foundation of the UN's efforts to help and protect an estimated 50 million refugees worldwide.

The 1951 UN Convention

Who is a refugee?

Article 1 of the Convention defines a refugee as "A person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution."

Why is the Convention important?

It was the first truly international agreement covering the most fundamental aspects of a refugee's life. It spelled out a set of basic human rights which should be at least equivalent to freedoms enjoyed by foreign nationals living legally in a given country and in many cases those of citizens of that state. It recognized the international scope of refugee crises and the necessity of international cooperation, including burden-sharing among states, in tackling the problem.

Is the Convention still relevant?

Yes. It was originally adopted to deal with the aftermath of World War II in Europe and growing East-West political tensions. But though the nature of conflict and migration patterns have changed in the intervening decades, the Convention has proved remarkably resilient in helping to protect an estimated 50 million people in all types of situations. As long as persecution of individuals and groups persists, there will be a need for the Convention.

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