Why in News:
The UNHCR has suspended the voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from India after recent arrests in Sri Lanka for immigration law violations, raising concerns over their safety and dignity despite assurances of protection during the return process.
Description:
- UN Refugee Agency → established 1950 (after WWII displacements).
- Mandate → Protect and support refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees.
- Head → High Commissioner for Refugees.
- Parent Body → United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
- HQ → Geneva, Switzerland.
- Presence in India → since 1981; offices in New Delhi & Chennai.
Legal Framework
- 1951 Refugee Convention (Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951):
- Defines refugees (fear of persecution: race, religion, nationality, social group, political opinion).
- Principles: Non-discrimination, Non-penalisation, Non-refoulement.
- Refugees not to be punished for illegal entry.
- Rights: Access to justice, education, travel documents.
- Exclusion: War criminals.
- 1967 Protocol → Expanded definition beyond Europe.
- India is NOT a signatory to both 1951 Convention & 1967 Protocol.
UNHCR Awards
- Nansen Refugee Award → annually for contributions to refugee protection.
- Nobel Peace Prize → awarded to UNHCR in 1954 & 1981.
India & UNHCR
- India is not a signatory but hosts large refugee populations.
- Refugees in India:
- Tibetans and Sri Lankan Tamils → govt.-protected.
- Others (Rohingya, Afghans, Myanmar refugees) → handled case by case.
- India generally follows non-refoulement, but not legally bound.
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