1951 Refugee Convention
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
Refugee RightsThe 1951 Refugee Convention is the main international agreement that protects people who have fled their countries due to persecution. It establishes that refugees cannot be sent back to countries where they face serious harm (known as the principle of non-refoulement), and it gives them rights to work, education, housing and travel documents in the countries where they seek safety. While 149 countries including the UK have signed up to these protections, enforcement varies widely as there is no international court to enforce it, meaning each country interprets and applies the rules differently. The UK is legally bound by this treaty and must assess asylum claims fairly, not return people to danger, and provide refugees with rights similar to other residents, though recent policy changes have tested these commitments.