Who are refugees?
Refugees are people who have been forced to flee their home country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. The main difference between a refugee and immigrant is that refugees did not chose to leave their home. Several major crises around the world have contributed to the rising number of refugees, including:
The term is used in lay discourse to refer to anyone seeking refuge, however, under international law, our common definition of a refugee is not how the term is employed.
- on-going conflict in Syria
- insecurity and violence in Afghanistan -- 80 percent of newly displaced Afghans are women and children
- conflict and natural disaster in South Sudan
- on-going discrimination against ethnic Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
The term is used in lay discourse to refer to anyone seeking refuge, however, under international law, our common definition of a refugee is not how the term is employed.
"REFUGEE" in International law
Under international law, our common definition of a refugee is not how the term is employed. In fact, the standard against which someone's case is evaluated is a codified definition that is interpreted by the UNHCR. The definition for who counts as a refugee is a definition that is fraught and controversial — not for who it includes, but for who it has overlooked. Nonetheless, a refugee is defined as:
One who has a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.
— 1951 Refugee Convention
What stands out in this standard?
- A refugee has a "well-founded fear of persecution."
- This fear of persecution is based on that person's immutable traits: race, religion, nationality, membership with a particular social group or political opinion.
- This person is outside the country of his or her nationality.
- This person is unable or, owing to such a fear, is unwilling to avail himself or herself to the protection of the protection of that country.
- Climate refugees are not included.