My article about the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol is published in the German Journal for Human Rights.
Abstract (english):
The Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and its Protocol of 1967 has proven to be a milestone in the history of human rights. Established after the Second World War and on the basis of inhumane refugees’ treatment before and during the war, the convention was to ensure the protection and solutions finding for refugees in Europe and later globally. The 46 articles in the convention state the rights of refugees and obligations of states, which reveal an international legally binding instrument. Since it entered into force, 145 states signed the document which suggests the adoption of a far-reaching refugee protection according to international standards; however, the past years also reveal multiple challenges and developments within the protection system. Based on history, this article discusses the content and principles of the Refugee Convention and its Protocol, and aims to critically examine these aspects in the context of current developments. Finally, the article asks how the convention’s narrative, the protection mechanisms and global developments relate to each other.