Refugees and

displaced persons.
“Humanitarian
”Protection

Matiyeva Aymenli
 Table of Content
The Global Refugee
Introduction 02 Crisis
Major causes of
Definition of refugees and displaced persons 01
displacement

Humanitarian
Role of international 03 Protection
organizations and
human rights 05

Challenges to Protecting
the Human Rights of
04 Refugees and Displaced
Persons
 Warm Up!
What is the difference between them?
01

Refugee
02
03
Displaced person

Asylum

05 04

Stateless Person Migrant

 Who is a refugee?

● A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country
because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear
of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or
membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return
home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence
are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.

● Refugees are forced to flee their homes due to a variety of reasons,

including conflict, persecution, human rights abuses, natural disasters, and
climate change. Some of the major conflicts that have caused significant
displacement in recent years include the Syrian Civil War, the Yemeni Civil
War, and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.
 69% of those displaced across borders come from
just five countries

0 0 0
03 04
1 2 5
Syria Venezuela Afganistan Souht Sudan Myanmar
The Syrian Civil The political and Taliban takeover of The ongoing The military coup
War, which began economic crisis the country conflict which in February 2021
in 2011 began in 2013
 Who is an internally displaced person?

● An internally displaced person, or IDP, is someone who has been forced to flee their home but
never cross an international border. These individuals seek safety anywhere they can find it—in
nearby towns, schools, settlements, internal camps, even forests and fields. IDPs, which include
people displaced by internal strife and natural disasters, are the largest group that UNHCR
assists. Unlike refugees, IDPs are not protected by international law or eligible to receive many
types of aid because they are legally under the protection of their own government.

● Countries with some the largest internally displaced populations are Colombia, Syria,
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Yemen.
 Who is a stateless person?

● A stateless person is someone who is not a citizen of any country. Citizenship is the legal bond
between a government and an individual, and allows for certain political, economic, social and
other rights of the individual, as well as the responsibilities of both government and citizen. A
person can become stateless due to a variety of reasons, including sovereign, legal, technical or
administrative decisions or oversights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights underlines
that “Everyone has the right to a nationality.”

● The true extent of statelessness is estimated to be much higher than estimated, as fewer than
half of all countries in the world submit any data and some of the most populous countries in
the world with large suspected stateless populations don't report on statelessness at all.
 Who is an asylum seeker?

● An asylum seeker is someone who has left their home country and is seeking protection in
another country because they have been forced to flee persecution, war, violence, or other
serious threats to their safety and well-being.

● An asylum seeker may be fleeing persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political
beliefs, or membership in a particular social group. They are seeking protection in another
country because they fear persecution or harm if they return to their home country.

● When an asylum seeker arrives in another country, they must apply for asylum, which is the legal
protection that a country offers to those who are fleeing persecution. During the asylum
application process, the individual's claim for protection is assessed by the country's
government or relevant authorities. If their claim is accepted, they are granted refugee status
and given legal permission to stay in the country and receive protection. If their claim is rejected,
they may be required to leave the country or face deportation.
 53.2m Statistics
Internally
displaced people 53.2m
around the world
People
People around the
world are stateless or 4.3m
at risk of statelessness

New Asylum
claims in 2021 1.7m
Number of
refugees helped 50m
by UNHCR since +
1951
 UNHCR - Protecting and Supporting Refugees Worldwide

● UNHCR is a United Nations agency that is dedicated to protecting and supporting refugees, asylum seekers, and
stateless persons worldwide.
● Founded in 1950, UNHCR works to provide shelter, food, water, healthcare, and other essential services to refugees
and displaced persons, and to advocate for their rights and protection.
● UNHCR operates in over 135 countries, providing assistance and protection to over 80 million people around the
world.
● UNHCR is funded by voluntary contributions from governments, private individuals, and organizations. The agency
relies on these contributions to provide life-saving support to refugees and displaced persons.
● UNHCR's work is guided by the 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines who is a refugee, their rights, and the legal
obligations of states to protect them.
● UNHCR works closely with governments, NGOs, and other partners to ensure that refugees and displaced persons
receive the assistance and protection they need to rebuild their lives and realize their full potential.
● UNHCR's ultimate goal is to find durable solutions for refugees, including voluntary repatriation, local integration, or
resettlement to a third country.
The Global Refugee Crisis - An Unprecedented
Humanitarian Challenge

26 million refugees

4.2 million asylum

seekers
 Global Refugee Crisis

● The world is facing an unprecedented global refugee crisis, with over 26 million refugees and 4.2 million
asylum seekers worldwide, according to UNHCR.
● The majority of refugees are hosted by developing countries, which often lack the resources and infrastructure
to provide adequate protection and assistance to them.
● The crisis is a complex humanitarian challenge that requires a coordinated and comprehensive response from
governments, international organizations, and civil society.
● The response should include providing humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees and displaced persons,
addressing the root causes of displacement, promoting durable solutions for refugees, and protecting their
rights and dignity.
● The crisis also highlights the importance of solidarity, cooperation, and compassion in addressing global
challenges and ensuring a more just and inclusive world for all.
Causes of the
crisis

01 02 03 04

Human rights Environmental

Conflicts Poverty
violations degradation,climate
change.
 Human Rights of Refugees and Displaced Persons - Upholding Dignity and Justice

● Governments have an obligation to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of refugees and
displaced persons, regardless of their legal status or background.
● This includes ensuring that refugees and displaced persons have access to essential services such
as shelter, food, water, healthcare, and education, as well as legal protection, freedom of movement,
and the right to work and earn a living.
● It also involves addressing the root causes of displacement, such as conflicts, persecution, and
human rights violations, and promoting durable solutions for refugees, including voluntary
repatriation, local integration, or resettlement to a third country.
● Upholding the human rights of refugees and displaced persons is essential for promoting social
justice, peace, and stability, and for building a more inclusive and prosperous world for all.
 Refugees and displaced persons have the same
human rights as any other person like:
01 03

Right to Right to
liberty security

02 04

Right to work Right to life

 Refugee rights

01 02 03 04

Right to
Access to Right to Right to a
own
education asylum profession
property
 Refugee rights
Freedom of Freedom of
Right to asylum
opinion thought

02

01 03
 1951 Refugee Convention - A Key Instrument for Protecting Refugees

● The 1951 Refugee Convention is a key international instrument for protecting the rights of
refugees and defining the legal obligations of states in providing protection and assistance to
them.
● The Convention was adopted in the aftermath of World War II and the refugee crisis that
ensued, and has since been ratified by 149 states.
● The Convention defines who is a refugee, their rights, and the legal obligations of states to
protect them.
● The Convention also imposes obligations on states to provide refugees with protection and
assistance, including access to legal protection, documentation, and essential services such as
food, water, and healthcare.
● While the Convention has played a crucial role in protecting the rights of refugees, it also faces
significant challenges in the face of the global refugee crisis and the changing nature of
displacement. Some argue that the Convention needs to be updated to address the
contemporary challenges faced by refugees and displaced persons.
 Challenges to Protecting Refugees

● Despite the existence of international legal frameworks, protecting refugees and displaced persons continues
to be a significant challenge for the international community.
● Some of the main challenges to protecting refugees include the following:
● Political will: Lack of political will and commitment from governments to uphold the rights of refugees and
provide effective protection and assistance.
● Limited resources: Insufficient funding and resources to provide adequate support for refugees, particularly in
low- and middle-income countries that host the majority of refugees.
● Security concerns: Security concerns and restrictive policies that prevent refugees from accessing protection
and assistance, including through border closures, detention, and forced return.
● Discrimination and marginalization: Systemic discrimination and marginalization of refugees and displaced
persons, including restrictions on access to education, healthcare, and employment.
● Climate change: The impact of climate change on displacement, as well as the lack of legal recognition of
those who are displaced due to climate-related factors.
Short Video
 Reference

● https://help.unhcr.org/faq/how-can-we-help-you/asylum-and-refugee-status/
● https://www.unhcr.org/3ae6bd900.pdf
● https://www.icrc.org/en/document/protected-persons/refugees-displaced-persons
● https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/migrants-refugees-or-displaced-persons