refugee

A refugee is a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality and is unable or unwilling to avail themselves of that country’s protection. The concept—along with international protections for refugees—is established by the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and is applied by national authorities in the country of asylum.

An asylum seeker is someone who has applied for refugee protection but whose status has not yet been determined. A refugee is distinct from an internally displaced person, who remains within their own country. Core protections include the non-refoulement principle (not returning people to danger), access to essential services, and, in many cases, a refugee travel document and rights to work, education, and housing.

Displacement arises from armed conflict, persecution, or threats at home. Refugees originate from many countries; long-standing sources include Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among others. Most refugees seek safety in neighboring states or through resettlement in third countries.

UNHCR and other bodies coordinate protection and solutions. The Convention framework allows refugees to receive travel documents and, in many jurisdictions, access to asylum procedures, labor markets, schooling, and social services. Durable solutions include local integration, voluntary return when safe, and resettlement to a third country.

Protection challenges include protracted displacement, limited access to livelihoods, legal and procedural barriers, discrimination, and funding gaps. Efforts focus on improving protection, facilitating durable solutions, and ensuring the rights and well-being of those forced to flee.