Refugee Definitions

Asylum

The protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee.

Repartiation

The return of someone to their own country

Resettlement

The transfer of refugees from an asylum country to another State that has agreed to admit them and ultimately grant them permanent settlement. UNHCR is mandated by its Statute and the UN General Assembly Resolutions to undertake this as one of the three durable solutions. This is unique in that it is the only durable solution that involves the relocation of refugees from an asylum country to a third country.

Economic Migrant

These are people who choose to leave their country tin search of a better standard of living

Migrants

These are people who choose to move not because of a direct threat of persecution or death, but mainly to improve their lives by finding work, or in some cases for education, family reunion, or other reasons. Unlike refugees who cannot safely return home, these people face no such impediment to return. If they choose to return home, they will continue to receive the protection of their government.

Internally displaced person (IDP)

These people have not crossed a border to find safety. Unlike refugees, they are on the run at home. While they may have fled for similar reasons, these people stay within their own country and remain under the protection of its government, even if that government is the reason for their displacement. As a result, these people are among the most vulnerable in the world.

"Prima Facie" Refugees

This approach means the recognition by a State or UNHCR of refugee status on the basis of readily apparent, objective circumstances in the country of origin or, in the case of stateless asylumseekers, their country of former habitual residence. 1

United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR)

This is a UN Refugee Agency with the mandate to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people, and assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.

Asylum Seeker

This is someone whose request for sanctuary has yet to be processed.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

A document adopted by the UN on 10 Dec 1948 that stated the fundamental human rights to be universally protected

Corenerstone

An important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based.

Stateless Person

Someone who is not recognized as a national by any state under the operation of its law.

Immigrant

Someone who enters another country to live there permenantly

Refugee

Someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. These people have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of people fleeing their countries.

Hallmark

a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature

Transient

a person who is staying or working in a place for only a short time.