UNITED NATIONS DEBATES THE MEANING OF “REFUGEE”

At the request of the US, the United Nations Security Council recently held a meeting at which the topic of discussion was the definition of “refugee.”  The discussion was prompted by the growing number of “internally displaced persons” across the globe.  Under the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who, “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”  Internally displaced persons are people who have been forced from their homes, but because they are still within their native country, do not fall within the definition of “refugee.” 

Worldwide, there are 15 million refugees, and about 20 to 25 million internally displaced persons.  Displaced persons are protected by the Geneva Convention, but it has been difficult for the UN to provide the same aid and protection to them as to refugees.  This difficulty prompted the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, to call for the erosion of the distinction between refugee and internally displaced persons. 

There are serious international issues implicated in a potential change in the definition of refugee, not the least of which are concerns of financial ability, bureaucracy and national sovereignty.  It also could affect immigration policy by expanding the number of people eliegble for refugee status. Issues of national sovereignty enter into the debate because providing services to internally displaced persons involves entering the country in which the people are located, the same country whose actions have forced the people from their homes.  These countries can block United Nations efforts to provide services to displaced persons.

China’s Ambassador expressed his belief that international aid should only be given while keeping in mind a country’s right to control its internal affairs.  China has long taken this position, fearing international involvement in its internal disputes with Taiwan and especially Tibet.

While no resolution was reached at the recent Security Council meeting (and it will certainly take many meetings to reach one), the growing numbers of internally displaced persons around the world will increase pressure on the United Nations, which will have to define its role with respect to these people.