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From this section, you must know…

1. What are refugees?
2. What are protected statuses?
3. What are asylum seekers and asylum? </aside>

People in need of international protection, being outside their country of origin but their country of origin cannot or will not protect them

The UNHCR defines refugees by the 1951 Geneva Conventions, which includes people persecuted because of their:

• Race
• Religion, ethnic religion, or religious practices
• Nationality, national alignment
• Political beliefs and opinions, such as criticizing the government

Definition: Persecution – hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs

Prosecution can look like imprisonment, denial of basic rights and services, and violence against persons or property.

The number of refugees has been increasing world-wide, especially because of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Most refugees are internally displaced persons (IDPs).

In 2019, most refugees originated from South or Southwest Asia and Central Africa.

Definition: Asylum-Seeker - a person who has left their home country and is seeking asylum in another. Someone may become an asylum seeker because of persecution, conflict, or natural or man-made disasters.

Definition: Asylum - the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country

Problems with Refugee Status

There’s a number of problems associated with how we define and treat refugees.

1. Climate Change is dramatically increasing the number of refugees.

Victims of climate change disasters are not considered refugees by the Geneva Conventions

1. Refugees depend on the good will of asylum-granting countries.
2. Lack of Representation in politics. The needs of refugees are often not represented, by nature of political asylum.