A. The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees

The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (known as 1951 Refugee Convention) was drawn up following World War II and was an attempt by members of the international community to deal with the massive numbers of people who had been displaced as a result of the turmoil.

The 1951 Refugee Convention is a legally binding treaty and a milestone in international refugee law. The Statute of the UNHCR gave it authority to deal with refugee problems wherever they might arise, with no geographical or date limitation, as long as those concerned had a well-founded fear of persecution.

Subsequent events demonstrated that movements of refugees were by no means an incident limited to the effects of World War II in Europe. As new refugee groups emerged, it became increasingly necessary to adapt the Convention in order to make it applicable to new refugee situations. In 1967, a Protocol was introduced making the Convention truly universal.

By 2000, a total of 139 countries have signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol.

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The Rights of Refugees and Displaced Persons