Eleanor Finch
Refugees are protected by international treaties, which ensure their basic rights are upheld regardless of their immigration status. These rights include non-discrimination, the right to education, the right to decent working conditions, and the right to emergency medical care. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is responsible for supervising international conventions that provide for the protection of refugees. Constitutions can also play a role in ensuring that refugees can access essential institutions and services, as well as supporting their rapid integration into their host countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| International treaties | Protect basic rights for refugees regardless of their immigration status |
| Basic rights | Non-discrimination, right to education, right to decent working conditions, right to emergency medical care |
| Stronger protections | Right to engage in employment, right to social security and public assistance |
| Right of asylum | Guaranteed in the Preamble of the Constitution of 1946 and the modern French right of asylum (droit d'asile) |
| United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees | Supervises international conventions providing for the protection of refugees |
| Non-refoulement | Forbids deporting asylum seekers to any country where "life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion" |
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What You'll Learn
International treaties protect basic rights for refugees
International treaties protect the basic rights of refugees, regardless of their immigration status. These rights include non-discrimination, the right to education, the right to decent working conditions, and the right to emergency medical care.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is charged with supervising international conventions providing for the protection of refugees. The 1951 United Nations (UN) Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the additional 1967 protocol, articles K1 and K2 of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, and the 1985 Schengen Agreement all provide for the application modalities for the right of asylum.
The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees also includes the non-refoulement principle, which forbids the deportation of asylum seekers to any country where their "life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion".
Contracting States are required to accord refugees lawfully staying in their territory treatment that is "not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances". This includes the right to practice a liberal profession and, where a rationing system exists, the right to be accorded the same treatment as nationals with regards to the distribution of products in short supply.
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The right of asylum
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is responsible for supervising international conventions that protect refugees. The UNHCR works closely with states to coordinate measures and ensure the effective protection of refugees worldwide. This includes ensuring that refugees have access to essential rights and services, such as education, decent working conditions, and emergency medical care, as outlined in international treaties.
While the right of asylum provides important protections for refugees, it is not absolute. Asylum claims can be rejected, and upon cessation of the right of asylum, individuals may be subject to voluntary expatriation or, in some cases, immediate deportation. However, even in these circumstances, the non-refoulement principle still applies, ensuring that individuals are not returned to a country where their life or freedom would be at risk.
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The role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is charged with the task of supervising international conventions providing for the protection of refugees. The effective coordination of measures taken to deal with this problem depends upon the cooperation of states with the High Commissioner.
The term "refugee" applies to any person who has been considered a refugee under the Arrangements of 12 May 1926 and 30 June 1928 or under the Conventions of 28 October 1933 and 10 February 1938, the Protocol of 14 September 1939 or the Constitution of the International Refugee Organization. Decisions of non-eligibility taken by the International Refugee Organization during the period of its activities shall not prevent the status of refugee being accorded to persons who fulfil the conditions of paragraph 2 of this section.
International treaties protect the basic rights of migrants and refugees regardless of their immigration status, including non-discrimination, the right to education, the right to decent working conditions, and the right to emergency medical care. Stronger protections exist for lawfully staying migrants, including the right to engage in employment and the right to social security and public assistance.
The Contracting States shall use their best endeavours, consistently with their laws and constitutions, to secure the settlement of such refugees in the territories for whose international relations they are responsible. Where a rationing system exists, which applies to the population at large and regulates the general distribution of products in short supply, refugees shall be accorded the same treatment as nationals.
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The right to education, work and healthcare
International treaties protect the basic rights of refugees, including the right to education, decent working conditions, and emergency medical care. These rights are protected regardless of a refugee's immigration status.
The right to education is a fundamental aspect of refugee protection. Refugees are entitled to receive an education on par with that provided to nationals in the host country. This ensures that refugees have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills necessary for their personal development and future prospects.
In terms of work, refugees are afforded the right to engage in employment and to practise a profession. They should be treated no less favourably than aliens in similar circumstances. This means that refugees have the legal right to seek and obtain employment, supporting themselves and their families.
Additionally, refugees are entitled to emergency medical care. This right ensures that refugees have access to essential healthcare services when they need them the most. However, stronger protections may exist for lawfully staying migrants, as seen in the example of Canada, where the Supreme Court found that providing different standards of care to refugees based on their country of origin violated their rights.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is responsible for supervising international conventions that protect refugees. This includes the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which provides for the right of asylum. The non-refoulement principle, enshrined in Article 33, forbids the deportation of asylum seekers to countries where their life or freedom would be threatened due to their race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion.
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The right to social security and public assistance
International treaties protect the basic rights of refugees, including the right to social security and public assistance. These rights are also protected by the constitutions of individual countries. For example, in Canada, the Supreme Court found that a health system that provided different standards of care to refugees depending on their country of origin violated the right to social security and public assistance.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is charged with supervising international conventions that provide for the protection of refugees. This includes the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which defines a refugee as anyone who has been considered a refugee under previous conventions or protocols, or as a result of events occurring before 1 January 1951.
The modern French right of asylum is secured by the Preamble of the Constitution of 1958, which refers to the Preamble of the 1946 Constitution. This guarantees the right of asylum to "anyone persecuted because of his activities in the cause of freedom". France also adheres to international agreements that provide for the right of asylum, such as the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the additional 1967 protocol.
Contracting States are also required to accord favourable treatment to refugees lawfully staying in their territory who hold recognised diplomas and who wish to practise a liberal profession. This treatment must be no less favourable than that accorded to aliens in the same circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
International treaties protect basic rights for refugees, including non-discrimination, the right to education, the right to decent working conditions, and the right to emergency medical care.
Non-refoulement applies, which means that asylum seekers cannot be deported to any country where their "life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion".
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is responsible for supervising international conventions providing for the protection of refugees.
