The Refugee Convention and its single updating Protocol are the centre of international refugee protection

Background

The Convention relating to the Status of Refugees was adopted at Geneva, 28 July 1951, and the United Nations records that it entered into force in 1954. It has one amending and updating instrument, the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, adopted at New York, 31 January 1967. The Convention is by far the most widely ratified refugee treaty and remains central to the protection work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. That Office was set up by General Assembly resolution 428 (V) of 14 December 1950 with effect from 1 January 1951. Initially set up for three years, its mandate was renewed repeatedly until the Assembly decided to continue the Office until the refugee problem is solved. The regime is reactive: it is triggered by a cross-border movement, so neither prevention nor the protection of internally displaced persons falls within its range. Earlier, article 14, paragraph 1, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had recognised the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.