Refugee protection is first and foremost about meeting the needs of vulnerable and threatened individuals. The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol were landmarks in the setting of standards for the treatment of these refugees. Together, they incorporate, either directly or as an inevitable interpretation, the foundation concepts of the refugee protection regime which are as relevant in the contemporary context as they were in 1951. These include: • Refugees should not be returned to persecution or the threat of persecution (the principle of non-refoulement); • Protection must be extended to all refugees without discrimination; • The problem of refugees is social and humanitarian in nature and, therefore, should not become a cause of tension between States; • Since the grant of asylum may place unduly heavy burdens on certain countries, a satisfactory solution to the problem of refugees can only be achieved through international cooperation; • Persons escaping persecution cannot be expected always to leave their country and enter another country in a regular manner and, accordingly, should not be penalized for having entered into or being illegally in the country where they seek asylum; • Given the very serious consequences that the expulsion of refugees may have, this should only be resorted to in exceptional circumstances to protect national security or public order; and • Cooperation by States with the High Commissioner for Refugees is essential if measures taken to deal with the problem of refugees are to be coordinated effectively.

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asylum seeker refugee immigration policy international agreement