1. Refugee Rights in International Law

2. Introduction Refugees a World-Wide Challenge
International Law Provides Minimum Human Rights for Refugees
Key Definitions:
Refugee
Asylum Seeker
Internally Displaced Person
Migrant
Stateless Person
Returnees

3. International Refugee Law
1951 Refugee Convention
establishes rights & standards
1967 Protocol
removes Convention’s time & place restrictions
incorporates Conventions rights & standards
Other International Human Rights Agreements
International Humanitarian Law Agreements
Regional Agreements
Non-Binding Documents

4. Regional Refugee Law Africa Europe The Americas
African Charter on Human & People’s Rights
AU Convention Governing Refugee Problems
African Charter on Child Rights & Welfare
Europe
Convention for Protection of Human Rights
Council of Europe Agreements
The Americas
Human Rights Agreements
Refugee Agreements

5. Refugee Law in the U.S. Party to 1967 Refugee Convention Protocol
2005 Act Tightened Asylum Due to Terrorism
Asylum Criteria:
refugee, of special humanitarian concern, and not barred by certain actions
burden of proof on applicant on refugee status
past vs. future persecution
internal relocation must be unreasonable

6. Other U.S. Immigration Options
Withholding of Removal
Deferral of Removal
Temporary Protected Status
Deferred Enforced Departure

7. Concerns With Asylum System
Security
Fraud
Overburdening Host Government

8. Key Civil Rights Treatment Without Discrimination Survival Rights
Due Process
Freedom of Movement
Education
Work
Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion
Freedom of Association
Right of Non-Refoulement

9. Cessation of Refugee Status
Voluntary Return
New Nationality
Circumstances Causing Refugee Status Cease