1951 Convention
THE 1951 CONVENTION
AND ITS 1967 PROTOCOL
A PersonAl APPeAl from the United nAtions high Commissioner for refUgees
Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world. The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol help protect them. They clarify the rights of refugees and the obligations of the 148 States that are party to one or both of these instruments. Universal accession to the Refugee Convention is a valid and achievable goal. In this anniversary year of the Convention, I appeal to all non-signatory States to accede to it and pledge the full support of my Office to governments to help implement its provisions. António Guterres UN High Commissioner for Refugees
For more information about: unhCr and its work on refugees
Visit UNHCR’s website at www.unhcr.org You can also consult relevant Conclusions on International Protection of UNHCR’s Executive Committee at http://www. unhcr.org/ pages/49e6e6dd6.html information relating to the Commemorations:
Visit UNHCR’s website at www.unhcr.org/ commemorations international law relating to the protection of refugees and other persons of concern:
Visit UNHCR’s Refworld at www.refworld.org/, containing a vast collection of documents relating to situations in countries of origin, protection policy and legal positions, international instruments, case law, and national legislation.
Published by:
UNHCR P.O. Box 2500 1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland UNHCR, September 2011
UNHCR / DIP•1951 CoNv. / Q&A A.8 / ENG1
The legal framework for proTecTing refugees
n t h e a f t e r m a t h o f W o r l d Wa r I ( 1 9 1 4 - 1 9 1 8 ) , millions of people fled their homelands in search of refuge. Governments responded by drawing up a set of international agreements to provide travel documents for these people who were, effectively, the first refugees of the 20th century. Their numbers increased dramatically during and after World War II (1939-1945), as millions more were forcibly
AND ITS 1967 PROTOCOL
A PersonAl APPeAl from the United nAtions high Commissioner for refUgees
Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world. The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol help protect them. They clarify the rights of refugees and the obligations of the 148 States that are party to one or both of these instruments. Universal accession to the Refugee Convention is a valid and achievable goal. In this anniversary year of the Convention, I appeal to all non-signatory States to accede to it and pledge the full support of my Office to governments to help implement its provisions. António Guterres UN High Commissioner for Refugees
For more information about: unhCr and its work on refugees
Visit UNHCR’s website at www.unhcr.org You can also consult relevant Conclusions on International Protection of UNHCR’s Executive Committee at http://www. unhcr.org/ pages/49e6e6dd6.html information relating to the Commemorations:
Visit UNHCR’s website at www.unhcr.org/ commemorations international law relating to the protection of refugees and other persons of concern:
Visit UNHCR’s Refworld at www.refworld.org/, containing a vast collection of documents relating to situations in countries of origin, protection policy and legal positions, international instruments, case law, and national legislation.
Published by:
UNHCR P.O. Box 2500 1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland UNHCR, September 2011
UNHCR / DIP•1951 CoNv. / Q&A A.8 / ENG1
The legal framework for proTecTing refugees
n t h e a f t e r m a t h o f W o r l d Wa r I ( 1 9 1 4 - 1 9 1 8 ) , millions of people fled their homelands in search of refuge. Governments responded by drawing up a set of international agreements to provide travel documents for these people who were, effectively, the first refugees of the 20th century. Their numbers increased dramatically during and after World War II (1939-1945), as millions more were forcibly