THE PROTECTION OF REFUGEES UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

Abstract

Globally, insecurity can be in form of oppression, disaster and wars within and among nations of the world and has caused people to flee their homelands. These people are being forced to leave their homes, possessions, friends and family, traumatized by killings or other crimes that made them to flee from their indigenous country to a strange or foreign land. Refugee law has to do with establishing the status of a ‘refugee’ and protecting that status with rights that accrue to the recognition of that status. Hence, refugees are protected by International Law and are eligible to receive aid. In the past, the protection of refugees was primarily based on specific agreements concluded in the framework of the League of Nations before the adoption of the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees. At the end of the First World War, persons that were displaced as a result of the war became subject matter of discourse in International Politics/Law. This is majorly attributed to the reason why the United Nations for the first time provided an international mechanism to legally recognize the status of refugees and also their protections. This article explored how refugees are protected under International Law. It adopted doctrinal research methodology that involved the exploration of both primary and secondary sources. Conclusively, it was noted that the protection of refugees has significantly deteriorated over past few decades and it is recommended amongst other things that there is need to further strengthen both local and international institutions to ensure that refugees are well protected.