Cornerstone treaty of refugee protection turns 70

“The Convention continues to support the rights of refugees crossed the world,” said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “Thanks to the Convention, millions of lives person been saved.” 

As applicable present arsenic successful 1951 

Mr. Grandi expressed alarm over recent attempts by some Governments to disregard oregon circumvent the Convention’s principles, from expulsions and pushbacks of refugees and asylum seekers astatine onshore and oversea borders to proposals for their forcibly transportation to third States for processing without due extortion safeguards.   

He stressed the request for the planetary assemblage to uphold the cardinal principles of exile extortion arsenic laid retired successful the Convention, including the close of those fleeing persecution not to be returned to the way of harm oregon danger. 

Speaking 70 years to the time aft the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was presented to States for signing, the High Commissioner said the pact was a important constituent of planetary quality rights instrumentality and remains arsenic applicable present arsenic it was erstwhile it was drafted and agreed.  

“The connection of the Convention is wide arsenic to the rights of refugees and remains applicable successful the discourse of modern and unprecedented challenges and emergencies, specified arsenic the COVID-19 pandemic”, underscored Mr. Grandi. 

International cooperation essential 

The 1951 Refugee Convention was calved pursuing the aftermath of the Second World War.  

On 14 December 1950, the UN published the statute, and connected July 1951 representatives of 26 States met successful Geneva to finalize the substance of the treaty.  

The Convention and the 1967 Protocol, which broadened the scope of those successful request of planetary protection, specify who is simply a exile and the benignant of protection, assistance and rights they are entitled to.  

They stay the cornerstone of exile extortion contiguous and person inspired galore determination treaties and laws, specified arsenic the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention successful Africa, the 1984 Cartagena Declaration successful Latin America, and the European Union’s Common European Asylum System.  

The principles of the Convention were reaffirmed successful December 2018 by the Global Compact on Refugees, a blueprint for much predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing.  

Both admit that a sustainable solution to exile situations cannot beryllium achieved without planetary cooperation. 

Supporting exile law 

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has called on all States to follow principles of exile law, including the 1951 Convention, by enacting legislation and establishing institutions, policies and practices reflecting its provisions.  

It besides encourages countries that are not contracting States to accede to the Convention – as the 2018 signatory South Sudan continues to do.  

The 70th day of the Refugee Convention comes lone a fewer months aft UNHCR itself marked 7 decades arsenic the world’s mandated enactment for the extortion of those forcibly displaced.