Note
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1951-refugee-convention-1967-protocol
Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees
Introductory Note by UNHCR
Grounded in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Recognizes the right to seek asylum from persecution.
1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees:
Centerpiece of international refugee protection.
Adopted in 1951, entered into force on April 22, 1954.
Amended once by the 1967 Protocol.
Originally limited to those fleeing events before January 1, 1951, and within Europe.
1967 Protocol:
Removed geographic and temporal limits of the 1951 Convention, giving it universal coverage.
Supplemented by regional refugee protection regimes.
Progressive development of international human rights law.
1951 Convention Consolidates previous international instruments relating to refugees.
Definition of "Refugee" (Article 1):
Emphasizes protection from political or other persecution.
A refugee is someone unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or political opinion.
Fundamental Principles:
Non-discrimination: Applied without discrimination based on race, religion, or country of origin. Reinforced by international human rights law to include sex, age, disability, sexuality, or other prohibited grounds.
Non-penalization: Refugees should not be penalized for illegal entry or stay, recognizing that seeking asylum may require breaching immigration rules. Penalties include charges for immigration or criminal offenses, or arbitrary detention based on seeking asylum.
Non-refoulement: No one shall expel or return a refugee against their will to a territory where they fear threats to life or freedom. No reservations or derogations may be made to this principle.
Minimum Standards for Treatment:
Access to courts, primary education, work, documentation, and refugee travel documents in passport form.
Refugee travel document is widely accepted, similar to the former "Nansen passport" devised in 1922.
Exclusions from Convention (Article 1):
Individuals who have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, serious non-political crimes, or acts contrary to the UN's purposes and principles.
Refugees who receive protection/assistance from UN agencies other than UNHCR (e.g., Palestinian refugees under UNRWA).
Refugees with a status equivalent to nationals in their country of asylum.
Protocol's Obligation:
Requires states to comply with the 1951 Convention's provisions for all individuals covered by the refugee definition in Article 1, without date limitations.
Independent instrument, not limited to states parties to the Convention.
UNHCR's Role:
States cooperate with UNHCR in its functions per its Statute of 1950 and General Assembly resolutions.
UNHCR promotes international instruments for refugee protection and supervises their application.
Recognition and Reaffirmation:
In 2001, states reaffirmed commitment to the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol, recognizing non-refoulement as part of customary international law.
General Assembly frequently calls upon States to become parties to these instruments.
Accession Recommendation:
Recommended by organizations like the Council of Europe, African Union, and Organization of American States.
Anniversary:
In 2011, UNHCR commemorated the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Convention.
147 States Parties to either or both instruments.
Importance of Knowledge of Provisions:
Essential for refugees and those involved with refugee issues to know the Convention and Protocol's provisions.
Information Source:
Additional details available from UNHCR and its website (www.unhcr.org).
Geneva, December 2010
Final Act of the UN Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Status of Refugees and Stateless Persons
Resolution 429 (V) of December 14, 1950: UN General Assembly decided to convene a conference in Geneva to draft and sign a Convention on the Status of Refugees and a Protocol on the Status of Stateless Persons.
Conference Details:
Held at the European Office of the UN in Geneva from July 2-25, 1951.
26 States were represented by delegates with credentials.
Observer States:
Cuba
Iran
UNHCR Participation:
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees participated without voting rights, as per the General Assembly's request.
Participating States:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Holy See, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland (also representing Liechtenstein), Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Yugoslavia.
International Organizations Represented (without the right to vote):
International Labour Organisation
International Refugee Organization
Council of Europe:
Invited to have a representative present without the right to vote.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Present as Observers:
Category A:
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
International Federation of Christian Trade Unions
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Category B:
Agudas Israel World Organization
Caritas Internationalis
Catholic International Union for Social Service
Commission of the Churches on International Affairs
Consultative Council of Jewish Organizations
Co-ordinating Board of Jewish Organizations
Friends’ World Committee for Consultation
International Association of Penal Law
International Bureau for the Unification of Penal Law
International Committee of the Red Cross
International Council of Women
International Federation of Friends of Young Women
International League for the Rights of Man
International Social Service
International Union for Child Welfare
International Union of Catholic Women’s Leagues
Pax Romana
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
World Jewish Congress
World Union for Progressive Judaism
World Young Women’s Christian Association
Register:
International Relief Committee for Intellectual Workers
League of Red Cross Societies
Standing Conference of Voluntary Agencies
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World University Service
NGO Participation:
NGOs with consultative status by the Economic and Social Council, and those on the Secretary-General's Register (Resolution 288 B (X)), could submit written or oral statements.
Conference Leadership:
President: Mr. Knud Larsen, of Denmark
Vice-Presidents: Mr. A. Herment, of Belgium, and Mr. Talat Miras, of Turkey
Invitation to the Holy See:
The Conference invited the Holy See to designate a plenipotentiary representative, who joined on July 10, 1951.
Agenda:
Adopted the Provisional Agenda (A/CONF.2/2/Rev.1) drawn up by the Secretary-General.
Rules of Procedure:
Adopted the Provisional Rules of Procedure (A/CONF.2/3/Rev.1), with a provision allowing a Council of Europe representative to attend without the right to vote and to submit proposals.
Credentials Examination:
The President and Vice-Presidents examined credentials, reporting to the Conference on July 17, 1951; the report was adopted.
Basis of Discussions:
Used the draft Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and the draft Protocol relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, prepared by the ad hoc Committee on Refugees and Stateless Persons, excluding the preamble and Article 1 of the draft Convention.
Preamble text was that adopted by the Economic and Social Council on August 11, 1950, in Resolution 319 B II (XI).
Article 1 text was that recommended by the General Assembly on December 14, 1950, in Resolution 429 (V).
Convention Adoption:
Adopted in two readings.
A Style Committee was established, consisting of the President, representatives of Belgium, France, Israel, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Commissioner for Refugees.
Mr. G. Warren, of the United States of America, was elected Chairman of the Style Committee.
The Style Committee redrafted the text adopted on first reading, focusing on language and concordance between English and French texts.
The Convention was adopted on July 25 by 24 votes to none with no abstentions.
Opened for signature at the European Office of the UN from July 28 to August 31, 1951. Re-opened at the UN headquarters in New York from September 17, 1951, to December 31, 1952.
English and French texts are equally authentic and appended to the Final Act.
Titles of Chapters and Articles:
Decided that the titles of the chapters and articles are for practical purposes and do not constitute an element of interpretation (by 17 votes to 3, with 3 abstentions).
Draft Protocol Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons:
The Conference decided not to take a decision, referring the draft Protocol back to the UN for further study.
Recommendations Adopted Unanimously:
A (Facilitation of Refugee Travels):
Urges governments to continue issuing and recognizing travel documents as per the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Refugee Travel Documents (London, October 15, 1946) until obligations under Article 28 of the Convention are undertaken.
B (Principle of Unity of the Family):
Recommends governments to protect the refugee’s family, ensuring its unity, especially when the head of the family meets admission conditions in a country, and protecting refugee minors, particularly unaccompanied children, through guardianship and adoption.
C (Welfare Services):
Recommends governments and inter-governmental bodies to support welfare service efforts by qualified organizations.
D (International Co-operation in the Field of Asylum and Resettlement):
Recommends governments to continue receiving refugees and to cooperate internationally for asylum and resettlement.
E (Extension of Treatment Provided by the Convention):
Expresses the hope that the Convention will serve as an example beyond its contractual scope, guiding all nations to grant treatment to refugees not covered by the Convention's terms.
Signatories of the Final Act:
President of the Conference: Knud Larsen
Vice-Presidents of the Conference: A. Herment, Talat Miras
Executive Secretary of the Conference: John P. Humphrey
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
Preamble
Affirmation of Fundamental Rights: The Charter of the UN and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10, 1948) affirm that human beings should enjoy fundamental rights and freedoms without discrimination.
Concern for Refugees: The United Nations has shown profound concern for refugees and sought to ensure their widest possible exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms.
Desire for Revision and Consolidation: It is desirable to revise and consolidate previous international agreements on refugees to extend the scope and protection they are accorded through a new agreement.
International Cooperation: Granting asylum may place heavy burdens on certain countries; a satisfactory solution requires international cooperation, as recognized by the UN.
Humanitarian Nature: All states should recognize the social and humanitarian nature of refugee problems and prevent them from causing tension between States.
Role of UNHCR: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees supervises international conventions for refugee protection, and effective coordination depends on States' cooperation with the High Commissioner.
Article 1: Definition of the Term "Refugee"
Section A: Definition of Refugee
Applies to any person considered a refugee under the Arrangements of May 12, 1926, and June 30, 1928, or under the Conventions of October 28, 1933, and February 10, 1938, the Protocol of September 14, 1939, or the Constitution of the International Refugee Organization.
Decisions of non-eligibility by the International Refugee Organization do not prevent refugee status for those fulfilling paragraph 2 conditions.
As a result of events occurring before January 1, 1951 (geographic and temporal limitation), and owing to a 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 unable or unwilling to avail himself of that country's protection; or
Not having a nationality, is outside the country of his former habitual residence and unable or unwilling to return due to such fear.
Multiple Nationalities: For a person with more than one nationality, "the country of his nationality" means each country of which he is a national. Protection is not lacking if, without a valid reason based on well-founded fear, protection has not been sought from one of those countries.
Section B:
For the purposes of this Convention, the words “events occurring before 1 January 1951” in article 1, section A, shall be understood to mean either:
“(a) “events occurring in Europe before 1 January 1951”; or
(b) “events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January 1951”
Each Contracting State shall specify which meaning it applies.
Adopting alternative (a) may extend its obligations by adopting alternative (b).
Section C:
This Convention ceases to apply if:
(1) He has voluntarily re-availed himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; or
(2) Having lost his nationality, he has voluntarily re-acquired it; or
(3) He has acquired a new nationality, and enjoys the protection of the country of his new nationality; or
(4) He has voluntarily re-established himself in the country which he left or outside which he remained owing to fear of persecution; or
(5) He can no longer, because the circumstances in connexion with which he has been recognized as a refugee have ceased to exist, continue to refuse to avail himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to a refugee falling under section A(1) of this article who is able to invoke compelling reasons arising out of previous persecution for refusing to avail himself of the protection of the country of nationality
(6) Being a person who has no nationality he is, because of the circumstances in connexion with which he has been recognized as a refugee have ceased to exist, able to return to the country of his former habitual residence; Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to a refugee falling under section A (1) of this article who is able to invoke compelling reasons arising out of previous persecution for refusing to return to the country of his former habitual residence.
Section D:
This Convention shall not apply to persons who are at present receiving from organs or agencies of the United Nations other than the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees protection or assistance. When such protection or assistance has ceased for any reason, without the position of such persons being definitively settled in accordance with the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, these persons shall ipso facto be entitled to the benefits of this Convention.
Section E:
This Convention shall not apply to a person who is recognized by the competent authorities of the country in which he has taken residence as having the rights and obligations which are attached to the possession of the nationality of that country.
Section F:
The provisions of this Convention shall not apply to any person with respect to whom there are serious reasons for considering that:
(a) he has committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes;
(b) he has committed a serious non-political crime outside the country of refuge prior to his admission to that country as a refugee;
(c) he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Article 2: General Obligations
Every refugee has duties to the country in which he finds himself, which require in particular that he conform to its laws and regulations as well as to measures taken for the maintenance of public order.
Article 3: Non-Discrimination
The Contracting States shall apply the provisions of this Convention to refugees without discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin.
Article 4: Religion
The Contracting States shall accord to refugees within their territories treatment at least as favourable as that accorded to their nationals with respect to freedom to practice their religion and freedom as regards the religious education of their children.
Article 5: Rights Granted Apart from this Convention
Nothing in this Convention shall be deemed to impair any rights and benefits granted by a Contracting State to refugees apart from this Convention.
Article 6: The Term “In the Same Circumstances”
For the purposes of this Convention, the term “in the same circumstances”implies that any requirements (including requirements as to length and conditions of sojourn or residence) which the particular individual would have to fulfil for the enjoyment of the right in question, if he were not a refugee, must be fulfilled by him, with the exception of requirements which by their nature a refugee is incapable of fulfilling.
Article 7: Exemption from Reciprocity
Except where this Convention contains more favourable provisions, a Contracting State shall accord to refugees the same treatment as is accorded to aliens generally.
After a period of three years’ residence, all refugees shall enjoy exemption from legislative reciprocity in the territory of the Contracting States.
Each Contracting State shall continue to accord to refugees the rights and benefits to which they were already entitled, in the absence of reciprocity, at the date of entry into force of this Convention for that State.
The Contracting States shall consider favourably the possibility of according to refugees, in the absence of reciprocity, rights and benefits beyond those to which they are entitled according to paragraphs 2 and 3, and to extending exemption from reciprocity to refugees who do not fulfil the conditions provided for in paragraphs 2 and 3.
The provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 apply both to the rights and benefits referred to in articles 13, 18, 19, 21 and 22 of this Convention and to rights and benefits for which this Convention does not provide.
Article 8: Exemption from Exceptional Measures
With regard to exceptional measures which may be taken against the person, property or interests of nationals of a foreign State, the Contracting States shall not apply such measures to a refugee who is formally a national of the said State solely on account of such nationality. Contracting States which, under their legislation, are prevented from applying the general principle expressed in this article, shall, in appropriate cases, grant exemptions in favour of such refugees.
Article 9: Provisional Measures
Nothing in this Convention shall prevent a Contracting State, in time of war or other grave and exceptional circumstances, from taking provisionally measures which it considers to be essential to the national security in the case of a particular person, pending a determination by the Contracting State that that person is in fact a refugee and that the continuance of such measures is necessary in his case in the interests of national security.
Article 10: Continuity of Residence
Where a refugee has been forcibly displaced during the Second World War and removed to the territory of a Contracting State, and is resident there, the period of such enforced sojourn shall be considered to have been lawful residence within that territory.
Where a refugee has been forcibly displaced during the Second World War from the territory of a Contracting State and has, prior to the date of entry into force of this Convention, returned there for the purpose of taking up residence, the period of residence before and after such enforced displacement shall be regarded as one uninterrupted period for any purposes for which uninterrupted residence is required.
Article 11: Refugee Seamen
In the case of refugees regularly serving as crew members on board a ship flying the flag of a Contracting State, that State shall give sympathetic consideration to their establishment on its territory and the issue of travel documents to them or their temporary admission to its territory particularly with a view to facilitating their establishment in another country.
CHAPTER II : Juridical Status
Article 12: Personal Status
The personal status of a refugee shall be governed by the law of the country of his domicile or, if he has no domicile, by the law of the country of his residence.
Rights previously acquired by a refugee and dependent on personal status, more particularly rights attaching to marriage, shall be respected by a Contracting State, subject to compliance, if this be necessary, with the formalities required by the law of that State, provided that the right in question is one which would have been recognized by the law of that State had he not become a refugee.
Article 13: Movable and Immovable Property
The Contracting States shall accord to a refugee treatment as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances, as regards the acquisition of movable and immovable property and other rights pertaining thereto, and to leases and other contracts relating to movable and immovable property.
Article 14: Artistic Rights and Industrial Property
In respect of the protection of industrial property, such as inventions, designs or models, trade marks, trade names, and of rights in literary, artistic, and scientific works, a refugee shall be accorded in the country in which he has his habitual residence the same protection as is accorded to nationals of that country. In the territory of any other Contracting State, he shall be accorded the same protection as is accorded in that territory to nationals of the country in which he has his habitual residence.
Article 15: Right of Association
As regards non-political and non-profit-making associations and trade unions, the Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country, in the same circumstances.
Article 16: Access to Courts
A refugee shall have free access to the courts of law on the territory of all Contracting States.
A refugee shall enjoy in the Contracting State in which he has his habitual residence the same treatment as a national in matters pertaining to access to the Courts, including legal assistance and exemption from cautio judicatum solvi.
A refugee shall be accorded in the matters referred to in paragraph 2 in countries other than that in which he has his habitual residence the treatment granted to a national of the country of his habitual residence.
CHAPTER III : Gainful Employment
Article 17: Wage-Earning Employment
The Contracting State shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country in the same circumstances, as regards the right to engage in wage- earning employment.
In any case, restrictive measures imposed on aliens or the employment of aliens for the protection of the national labour market shall not be applied to a refugee who was already exempt from them at the date of entry into force of this Convention for the Contracting State concerned, or who fulfils one of the following conditions:
(a) He has completed three years’ residence in the country;
(b) He has a spouse possessing the nationality of the country of residence. A refugee may not invoke the benefits of this provision if he has abandoned his spouse;
(c) He has one or more children possessing the nationality of the country of residence.
The Contracting States shall give sympathetic consideration to assimilating the rights of all refugees with regard to wage-earning employment to those of nationals, and in particular of those refugees who have entered their territory pursuant to programmes of labour recruitment or under immigration schemes.
Article 18: Self-Employment
The Contracting States shall accord to a refugee lawfully in their territory treatment as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances, as regards the right to engage on his own account in agriculture, industry, handicrafts and commerce and to establish commercial and industrial companies.
Article 19: Liberal Professions
Each Contracting State shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory who hold diplomas recognized by the competent authorities of that State, and who are desirous of practicing a liberal profession, treatment as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances.
The Contracting States shall use their best endeavours consistently with their laws and constitutions to secure the settlement of such refugees in the territories, other than the metropolitan territory, for whose international relations they are responsible.
CHAPTER IV : Welfare
Article 20: Rationing
Where a rationing system exists, which applies to the population at large and regulates the general distribution of products in short supply, refugees shall be accorded the same treatment as nationals.
Article 21: Housing
As regards housing, the Contracting States, in so far as the matter is regulated by laws or regulations or is subject to the control of public authorities, shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory treatment as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances.
Article 22: Public Education
The Contracting States shall accord to refugees the same treatment as is accorded to nationals with respect to elementary education.
The Contracting States shall accord to refugees treatment as favourable as possible, and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances, with respect to education other than elementary education and, in particular, as regards access to studies, the recognition of foreign school certificates, diplomas and degrees, the remission of fees and charges and the award of scholarships.
Article 23: Public Relief
The Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory the same treatment with respect to public relief and assistance as is accorded to their nationals.
Article 24: Labour Legislation and Social Security
The Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory the same treatment as is accorded to nationals in respect of the following matters:
(a) In so far as such matters are governed by laws or regulations or are subject to the control of administrative authorities: remuneration, including family allowances where these form part of remuneration, hours of work, overtime arrangements, holidays with pay, restrictions on home work, minimum age of employment, apprenticeship and training, women’s work and the work of young persons, and the enjoyment of the benefits of collective bargaining;
(b) Social security (legal provisions in respect of employment injury, occupational diseases, maternity, sickness, disability, old age, death, unemployment, family responsibilities and any other contingency which, according to national laws or regulations, is covered by a social security scheme), subject to the following limitations:
(i) There may be appropriate arrangements for the maintenance of acquired rights and rights in course of acquisition;
(ii) National laws or regulations of the country of residence may prescribe special arrangements concerning benefits or portions of benefits which are payable wholly out of public funds, and concerning allowances paid to persons who do not fulfil the contribution conditions prescribed for the award of a normal pension.
The right to compensation for the death of a refugee resulting from employment injury or from occupational disease shall not be affected by the fact that the residence of the beneficiary is outside the territory of the Contracting State.
The Contracting States shall extend to refugees the benefits of agreements concluded between them, or which may be concluded between them in the future, concerning the maintenance of acquired rights and rights in the process of acquisition in regard to social security, subject only to the conditions which apply to nationals of the States signatory to the agreements in question.
The Contracting States will give sympathetic consideration to extending to refugees so far as possible the benefits of similar agreements which may at any time be in force between such Contracting States and non-contracting States.
CHAPTER V: Administrative Measures
Article 25: Administrative Assistance
When the exercise of a right by a refugee would normally require the assistance of authorities of a foreign country to whom he cannot have recourse, the Contracting States in whose territory he is residing shall arrange that such assistance be afforded to him by their own authorities or by an international authority.
The authority or authorities mentioned in paragraph 1 shall deliver or cause to be delivered under their supervision to refugees such documents or certifications as would normally be delivered to aliens by or through their national authorities.
Documents or certifications so delivered shall stand in the stead of the official instruments delivered to aliens by or through their national authorities, and shall be given credence in the absence of proof to the contrary.
Subject to such exceptional treatment as may be granted to indigent persons, fees may be charged for the services mentioned herein, but such fees shall be moderate and commensurate with those charged to nationals for similar services.
The provisions of this article shall be without prejudice to articles 27 and 28.
Article 26: Freedom of Movement
Each Contracting State shall accord to refugees lawfully in its territory the right to choose their place of residence to move freely within its territory, subject to any regulations applicable to aliens generally in the same circumstances.
Article 27: Identity Papers
The Contracting States shall issue identity papers to any refugee in their territory who does not possess a valid travel document.
Article 28: Travel Documents
The Contracting States shall issue to refugees lawfully staying in their territory travel documents for the purpose of travel outside their territory, unless compelling reasons of national security or public order otherwise require, and the provisions of the Schedule to this Convention shall apply with respect to such documents. The Contracting States may issue such a travel document to any other refugee in their territory; they shall in particular give sympathetic consideration to the issue of such a travel document to refugees in their territory who are unable to obtain a travel document from the country of their lawful residence.
Travel documents issued to refugees under previous international agreements by parties thereto shall be recognized and treated by the Contracting States in the same way as if they had been issued pursuant to this article.
Article 29: Fiscal Charges
The Contracting States shall not impose upon refugees duties, charges or taxes, of any description whatsoever, other or higher than those which are or may be levied on their nationals in similar situations.
Nothing in the above paragraph shall prevent the application to refugees of the laws and regulations concerning charges in respect of the issue to aliens of administrative documents including identity papers.
Article 30: Transfer of Assets
A Contracting State shall, in conformity with its laws and regulations, permit refugees to transfer assets which they have brought into its territory, to another country where they have been admitted for the purposes of resettlement.
A Contracting State shall give sympathetic consideration to the application of refugees for permission to transfer assets wherever they may be and which are necessary for their resettlement in another country to which they have been admitted.
Article 31: Refugees Unlawfully in the Country of Refugee
The Contracting States shall not impose penalties, on account of their illegal entry or presence, on refugees who, coming directly from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened in the sense of article 1, enter or are present in their territory without authorization, provided they present themselves without delay to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence.
The Contracting States shall not apply to the movements of such refugees restrictions other than those which are necessary and such restrictions shall only be applied until their status in the country is regularized or they obtain admission into another country. The Contracting States shall allow such refugees a reasonable period and all the necessary facilities to obtain admission into another country.
Article 32: Expulsion
The Contracting States shall not expel a refugee lawfully in their territory save on grounds of national security or public order.
The expulsion of such a refugee shall be only in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with due process of law. Except where compelling reasons of national security otherwise require, the refugee shall be allowed to submit evidence to clear himself, and to appeal to and be represented for the purpose before competent authority or a person or persons specially designated by the competent authority.
The Contracting States shall allow such a refugee a reasonable period within which to seek legal admission into another country. The Contracting States reserve the right to apply during that period such internal measures as they may deem necessary.
Article 33: Prohibition of Expulsion or Return (“Refoulement”)
No Contracting State shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
The benefit of the present provision may not, however, be claimed by a refugee whom there are reasonable grounds for regarding as a danger to the security of the country in which he is, or who, having been convicted by a final judgment of a particularly serious crime, constitutes a danger to the community of that country.
Article 34: Naturalization
The Contracting States shall as far as possible facilitate the assimilation and naturalization of refugees. They shall in particular make every effort to expedite naturalization proceedings and to reduce as far as possible the charges and costs of such proceedings.
CHAPTER VI : Executory and Transitory Provisions
Article 35: Co-operation of the National Authorities with the United Nations
The Contracting States undertake to co-operate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or any other agency of the United Nations which may succeed it, in the exercise of its functions, and shall in particular facilitate its duty of supervising the application of the provisions of this Convention.
In order to enable the Office of the High Commissioner or any other agency of the United Nations which may succeed it, to make reports to the competent organs of the United Nations, the Contracting States undertake to provide them in the appropriate form with information and statistical data requested concerning:
(a) The condition of refugees,
(b) The implementation of this Convention, and;
(c) Laws, regulations and decrees which are, or may hereafter be, in force relating to refugees.
Article 36: Information on National Legislation
The Contracting States shall communicate to the Secretary-General of the United Nations the laws and regulations which they may adopt to ensure the application of this Convention.
Article 37: Relation to Previous Conventions
Without prejudice to article 28, paragraph 2, of this Convention, this Convention replaces, as between parties to it, the Arrangements of 5 July 1922, 31 May 1924, 12 May 1926, 30 June 1928 and 30 July 1935, the Conventions of 28 October 1933 and 10 February 1938, the Protocol of 14 September 1939 and the Agreement of 15 October 1946.
CHAPTER VII : Final Clauses
Article 38
The 1967 Protocol removed the geographic and temporal limitations of the 1951 Convention, giving it universal coverage. It requires states to comply with the 1951 Convention's provisions for all individuals covered by the refugee definition in Article 1, without date limitations. It is also an independent instrument, not limited to states parties to the Convention.