ABSTRACT
Refugees are a recognized group with special status in international law. The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees defines a refugee as ‘a person who, owing to well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality (or habitual residence, if stateless) and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/ herself of its protection’. Recognition as a refugee can be granted by the host country, in accepting an asylum seeker’s claim, or by the U N High Commissioner for Refugees.
