Editing Refugee (section)

== Definitions ==
[[File:Darfur refugee camp in Chad.jpg|thumb|[[Darfur]] refugee camp in [[Chad]], 2005]]

The first modern definition of an international refugee status came when the [[League of Nations]] established its [[Organisation of the League of Nations | Commission for Refugees]] in 1921. Following [[World War II]] (1939 to 1945) and in response to the large numbers of people fleeing [[Eastern Europe]], the [[United Nations]] passed the 1951 [[Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees]]. It defines "refugee" in Article 1.A.2 as any person who:{{sfn|Convention Protocol relating|1967}}

<blockquote>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 nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.{{sfn|Convention Protocol relating|1967}}</blockquote>

In 1967 the definition was basically confirmed by the [[Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees]].

People fleeing from [[war]], [[natural disasters]], or [[poverty]] are generally not encompassed by the international [[right of asylum]]. However, many countries have implemented laws to protect these [[Displaced Persons]] also. Accordingly, the [[Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa]] expanded the 1951 definition, which the [[Organization of African Unity]] adopted in 1969:

<blockquote>Every person who, owing to external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events seriously disturbing public order in either part or the whole of his country of origin or nationality, is compelled to leave his place of habitual residence in order to seek refuge in another place outside his country of origin or nationality.{{sfn|Assembly of Heads of State and Government (Sixth Ordinary Session)|1969}}
</blockquote>

The 1984 the regional, non-binding Latin-American [[Cartagena Declaration on Refugees]] included the following definition of refugees:

<blockquote>persons who have fled their country because their lives, safety or freedom have been threatened by generalized violence, foreign aggression, internal conflicts, massive violation of human rights or other circumstances which have seriously disturbed public order.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cartagena Declaration on Refugees |publisher=UNHCR |url=http://www.unhcr.org/about-us/background/45dc19084/cartagena-declaration-refugees-adopted-colloquium-international-protection.html}}</ref></blockquote>

As of 2011 the [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] (UNHCR) itself, in addition to the 1951 definition, recognizes the following persons as refugees:

<blockquote>who are outside their country of nationality or habitual residence and unable to return there owing to serious and indiscriminate threats to life, physical integrity or freedom resulting from generalized violence or events seriously disturbing public order.{{sfn|Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)|2011|p=19}}</blockquote>

The [[European Union]] passed minimum standards as part of its definition of "refugee", underlined by article 2 (c) of Directive No. 2004/83/EC, essentially reproducing the narrow definition of refugee offered by the UN 1951 Convention. Nevertheless, by virtue of articles 2 (e) and 15 of the same Directive, persons who have fled a war-caused generalized violence are, under certain conditions, eligible for a complementary form of protection, called [[subsidiary protection]]. The same form of protection is foreseen for displaced people who, without being refugees, are nevertheless exposed, if returned to their countries of origin, to the death penalty, torture, or other inhuman or degrading treatments.