The contributors to this collection of essays critically examine the Refugee Convention fifty years after its inception and question whether it provides an adequate framework for protection. These internationally recognized refugee scholars and practitioners identify gaps and dilemmas in the international protection system in the context of globalization and universally recognized global rights. The ever-increasing pressure of asylum seekers and irregular migrants has fueled the debate between human rights and security. The authors reaffirm the essential relevance of the Rule of Law as the basis of treatment towards foreigners and challenge refugee and human rights standards that are selectively applied to immigrants. This discussion makes up the first of the two sub-themes of the book. The second cluster of chapters assess the ability and effectiveness of the Convention as an instrument of human rights protection and international law, its application against human rights standards and its ability to respond to human rights abuses. The authors discuss the role of UNHCR, the role of NGOs as effective instruments of change, nationality and citizenship issues and consider alternative approaches top resolve the global refugee problem.

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international law refugee globalization