The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (also known as Geneva Convention or 1951 Convention) and its 1967 Protocol are the most detailed and widely accepted international codification of refugee rights. The 1951 Convention provides a definition of “refugee” and spells out the legal status of refugees, including their rights and obligations. This page provides a short guide on the 1951 Convention and its main provisions. For a more comprehensive guide by UNHCR, see the Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees.

The Convention governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa is the regional legal instrument governing refugee protection in Africa. It was adopted on 10 September 1969 at the sixth ordinary session of the Organization of African Unity, now African Union (AU). The 1969 Convention expanded the 1951 definition of refugee and introduced significant advances from the Geneva Convention – e.g. on refugee discrimination and the principle of non-refoulement. This page provides a short guide on the 1969 Convention and its main provisions.

The Cartagena Declaration on Refugees is a non-binding regional, i.e. Latin-American, instrument for the protection of refugees and was adopted in 1984 by delegates from 10 Latin-American countries and has since been incorporated into the national laws and state practices of 14 countries. Compared to the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol, and drawing from the OAU Convention, the Declaration allows a broader category of persons in need of international protection to be considered refugees. This page provides a short guide on the 1984 Convention and its main provisions.

The Dublin III Regulation (previously the Dublin II Regulation and Dublin Convention) is an EU law that establishes the criteria and mechanisms for determining which EU Member State is responsible for the examination of an application for asylum, lodged by persons seeking international protection under the Geneva Convention and the EU Qualification Directive, within the EU.

The Global Compact on Refugees is a framework affirmed on 17 December 2018 by the United Nations General Assembly for more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation. It provides a blueprint for governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that host communities get the support they need and that refugees can lead productive lives. It’s four key objectives are to:

• Ease the pressures on host countries;
• Enhance refugee self-reliance;
• Expand access to third-country solutions;
• Support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity.

Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are not parties to the Geneva Convention or its Protocol, but some are at least parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and/or the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These treaties impose non-refoulement obligations which are not limited in application to “refugees” within the meaning of the Refugee Convention and Protocol and are not subject to exceptions. For more information visit:

• Our Refugee Protection in the Asia-Pacific Region page, which focuses on international and regional instruments and initiatives relevant to refugee protection in the region
• Pathways to Migrant Protection: A Mapping of National Practice for Admission and Stay on Human Rights and Humanitarian Grounds in Asia and the Pacific (United Nations, 2022), an excellent resource for those interested in the protection practice of individual countries in the region

The Handbook for Parliamentarians No. 27 – A Guide to international refugee protection and building state asylum systems addresses contemporary challenges and sets out applicable international legal standards and obligations for refugees and others in need of international protection in a way that is intended to be as accessible and yet as comprehensive as possible.

A particular focus of the Handbook is on establishing and maintaining asylum systems and the mechanisms to enable States to respond promptly and effectively to the arrival of asylum-seekers and refugees.