Refugees and internally displaced persons

• People may be forced to flee or leave their homes due to natural or man-made disaster, general insecurity or violation of human rights.
• Those that do not cross an international border are defined by the UN as INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS).
• Those that do cross an international border and are unable to return due to ‘well-founded’ fear of religious, ethnic or politically motivated violence or retribution are known as REFUGEES.
• Refugee rights are set out in the 1951 Refugee Convention which applies to all states, including those not party to the convention.
• The most important right stipulates that an asylum country cannot forcibly return (re-foul) or discriminate against refugees and is obliged to ensure the same social and economic rights as their own citizens.
• National legislation may constrain refugee and IDP rights e.g. identity papers.
• All refugee groups differ and have differing needs and expectations which must be taken into account.
• Refugees have strengths and capacities on which to build disaster response, recovery and preparedness programming.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES                 1-4

• Equal rights and equal obligations
• Universal application
• Right to seek and enjoy asylum
• State responsibility for protection

DISPLACEMENT PROTECTION     5-9

• Prevention of displacement
• Minimising severity and frequency of displacement
• Protection of indigenous groups

PHYSICAL SECURITY AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT                        10-15

• Right to life, dignity and personal integrity
• Protection against arbitrary arrest, detention and forcible return
• Choice of location and residence
• Protection from forced military
  recruitment especially children.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION                           16-17

• Family unity and reunification
• Honour and respect for mortal
  remains and grave sites
• Respect for family life
   

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS                                     18-23

• Adequate standard of living and services
• Health, medical and reproductive care
• Identification documents esp. women
• Protection and return of property
• Freedom to seek employment
• Freedom of speech & religious expression
• Respect for own culture and language
• Access to education

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE    24-27

• Provided without discrimination
• Primary responsibility of national
  authorities
• Humanitarian agency right to assist and state obligation to facilitate assistance.
• Humanitarian agency obligation to provide protection to those displaced
• Protection of humanitarian personnel

PROTECTION DURING RETURN, RESETTLEMENT AND REINTEGRATION                         28-30

• Right to voluntary return or resettlement
• Protection from discriminatory treatment
• Right to return of property or redress
• State / humanitarian agency responsibility to facilitate resettlement solutions.