Overview
This publication provides a synthesis of UNHCR’s
flagship publication, The State of the World’s Refugees: In Search of
Solidarity. The book itself was produced during 2011-2012, and written from the
perspective of UNHCR, drawing on experiences from the past seven years. It is
divided into eight thematic chapters, which together reflect the state of the
world’s refugees. Growing numbers without state protection First, the book
describes growing numbers of people who lack the full protection of their
state. Tens of millions of people worldwide—including 33.9 million people of concern
to UNHCR—are therefore particularly vulnerable. Most are people at risk from
armed conflicts and political violence in their communities and countries of
origin: civilians in conflict, refugees, asylum-seekers, refugees in protracted
displacement, and internally displaced…
Introduction:
Trends in Forced Displacement
This synthesis of The State of the World’s Refugees:
In Search for Solidarity, is intended for UNHCR’s diverse stakeholders, and all
people concerned with forced displacement. The book is available from Oxford
University Press at: http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199654758.do. The
world’s refugee protection system was established with the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, in 1950 and the adoption of
the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (the 1951
Refugee Convention). The system was designed to respond to the potentially
destabilizing effects of population movements from the Second World War and its
aftermath, and to uphold the rights of refugees and support the countries
hosting them. The Convention has since been supplemented by the 1967 Protocol,
as well as…
Chapter 1: Conflict, Displacement, and ‘Humanitarian
Space’
This chapter examines the impact of conflict and
insecurity on forced displacement and the humanitarian response worldwide. In
view of the tens of millions of people forcibly displaced by conflict today,
the chapter examines the changing nature of conflict, the challenges this poses
for humanitarian action, and the ‘risk management’ approach adopted by UNHCR
and other humanitarian actors. It concludes with an outline of expected future
challenges in addressing forced displacement in conflicts. In 2011, UNHCR
worked in situations of armed conflict more than ever before in its 60-year
history. A majority of the 10.4 million refugees under its mandate fled from
conflicts, more than half of them from Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. Since the
start of 2011, UNHCR has responded to new outflows…
Chapter 2:
Keeping Asylum Meaningful
This chapter describes the increasingly complex
challenge of preserving refugee protection and the integrity of asylum. It
begins by describing the international legal framework for refugee protection,
then describes the inconsistencies that beset its practice, and its entwinement
with other forms of migration and the need to strengthen the ‘governance’ of
the international refugee protection system. It concludes with a list of steps
to keep asylum meaningful. The world’s refugee protection regime was designed
to offer international protection to refugees who cannot rely on the protection
of their own state. The term ‘asylum’ is not defined in international law, but
it has come to refer to a status that guarantees refugees the enjoyment of
their full human rights in a host country. For more…
Chapter
3: Unblocking Durable Solutions
This chapter explores how the established framework
of three durable solutions might be adjusted to respond better to the needs of
today’s refugees. It begins by outlining the three traditional durable
solutions, goes on to describe the importance of comprehensive strategies which
include development and peacebuilding, and then considers how refugees
themselves approach durable solutions. It concludes by suggesting policy
directions to revitalize the search for solutions. The ultimate aim of refugee
protection is to secure lasting solutions to refugee problems. Lasting
solutions may be achieved by returning to a home country (voluntary
repatriation), by settling permanently in the country where the refugee has
found protection (local integration), or by relocating to a third country which
offers the refugee permanent residence (resettlement). A durable…
Chapter 4:
Resolving Statelessness
This chapter examines global developments in
addressing the problem of statelessness. It begins by describing the
international legal framework relating to statelessness, goes on to describe
the various causes of statelessness, and then outlines various efforts to
resolve the problem. It concludes that statelessness can often be effectively
resolved, and notes renewed international commitments to address the problem.
Everyone has the right to a nationality, as affirmed in Article 15 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Possession of nationality often serves
as a key to enjoying many other rights, such as education, health care,
employment and equality before the law. Two global instruments provide guidance
on the rights of stateless people and on how statelessness can be avoided: the
1954 Convention relating to…
Chapter
5: Protecting the Internally Displaced
This chapter reviews progress achieved during the
past six years in establishing a broad understanding of what the protection of
internally displaced persons (IDPs) means in practice, as well as the
continuing need for national and international engagement. It begins by
outlining how internal displacement has become an international concern, goes
on to describe the role of the international community, including in legal and
operational protection, and then considers the conditions needed for
displacement to end. It concludes with an assessment of future prospects, and
offers some directions for future progress. In recent years, IDPs have emerged
as the largest group of people receiving UNHCR’s protection and assistance. By
2011, UNHCR was engaged with 14.7 million IDPs in 26 countries, in contexts
ranging from…
Chapter
6: Displacement and Urbanization
This chapter looks at the challenges of rethinking
UNHCR’s response to refugees in urban areas. The chapter begins with a
description of UNHCR’s evolving policy on urban refugees, goes on to outline
the particular protection challenges in cities and then describes UNHCR’s
adapted operations and good practices. It concludes that broader partnerships
and adequate funding will be needed to address these challenges. As the world
becomes urbanized, refugees and displaced people increasingly live in cities
and towns too. It is difficult to know the precise number of refugees,
returnees and IDPs who live in urban areas. But these populations are diverse,
including single young men, women, children and older people, as well as some
highly vulnerable people. Refugees and displaced people frequently struggle to…
Chapter 7: Displacement, Climate Change, and Natural
Disasters
This chapter examines the international response to
the displacement linked to climate change and natural disasters. It begins by
describing the displacement challenges linked to the effects of climate change
and natural disasters, and then describes a potential normative gap in the
protection of people displaced across borders owing to these phenomena. It
concludes that protection gaps need to be addressed by the international
community, and that solidarity will be tested by the impacts of climate change.
The scale and complexity of human displacement will be increased by climate
change, a defining issue of our times. More people are already displaced
annually by natural disasters than by conflict, and the long term effects of
climate change are expected to trigger large-scale population movements within…
Chapter 8: State Responsibility and International
Solidarity
This chapter considers how international solidarity can help states to meet their responsibilities concerning refugees and contribute to improving their protection and finding lasting solutions to their problems. It begins by describing international solidarity and the impact of refugees on host countries, goes on to describe responsibility-sharing practices among states, and then describes efforts to strengthen international solidarity. It concludes by restating evolving challenges and the need for responsible states, international cooperation and meaningful solidarity to address them. The international refugee protection system is founded on national responsibility and states complying with their legal obligations towards refugees and others at risk, on the basis of treaties and customary international law. At the same time, the system depends on international solidarity, the principle by which…