Forced Migration in the OIC Member Countries:
Policy Framework Adopted by Host Countries
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Figure 2: Signatories of the 1951 Refugee Convention and/or 1967 Protocol
Source: UNHCR, "States Parties to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol,"
updated April 2015,
its-1967-protocol.html.
1.2.1. Refugee protection under international law
Article 1 of the 1951 Convention defines a refugee as someone who “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 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.”13 This definition of
“refugee” is highly specific, and the limitations and nuances written into the definition have
had profound implications for its applicability to subsequent events and circumstances.
Several points are worth exploring in greater depth:
 Owing to a well-founded fear of persecution: Flight must be driven by persecution,
and other reasons for flight, whether voluntary or not, are thus not covered by the
Convention. Notably, “persecution” is not specifically defined, leaving some room for
national interpretation regarding what level of harm or specific acts constitute
persecution.
13 UN General Assembly, “Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,” United Nations, July 28, 1951,