UNHCR Protection Manual

The Protection Manual is UNHCR's repository of protection policy and guidance. The documents are listed in reverse chronological order.

A. International Protection
A.

Refugee law instruments

International instruments

Regional instruments – Africa

Regional instruments – North Africa and the Middle East

Regional instruments – Americas

Regional instruments – Asia

Regional instruments – Europe, Council of Europe

Regional instruments – Europe, European Union

UNHCR mandate and supervisory responsibility

Executive Committee Conclusions

General Assembly and Economic and Social Council Resolutions

UNHCR and Humanitarian Reform
B. Refugee Protection
B.

(-) Inclusion (article 1A(2))

Inclusion – general

Persecution

Agents of Persecution

Outside country of origin

Persons fleeing armed conflict and other situations of violence

Religious-based refugee claims

Membership of a particular social group

Gender-related persecution

Victims of trafficking

Child asylum claims

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Claims related to military service – Conscientious objection / Draft evasion / Desertion

Internal flight / relocation alternative

Safe countries of origin / Safe third countries / Safe first country of asylum / 'Secondary' or 'onward' movement

Family Unity and Derivative Refugee Status

Claims in the context of climate change and disasters

Political Opinion

Cessation (article 1C)

Article 1D – Palestinian refugees

Exclusion

Article 1E

Article 1F

Cancellation and revocation of refugee status

Regional Refugee Definitions and Complementary forms of protection

Country-related guidance

Country-of-origin information and guidance, standards and procedures

Eligibility guidelines

Protection considerations, non-return advisories and other country-specific guidance

'Country-of-asylum' guidance

Procedures

Procedural safeguards / Due process rights

Credibility assessment / Use of country of origin information / Use of expert advice and evidence / Burden and standard of proof

UNHCR mandate procedures

Prima facie recognition

State Procedures

Effective remedies and access to courts

Reception

Entry (article 31) / Freedom of movement (article 26) / (alternatives to) detention

Expulsion and non-refoulement (articles 32 and 33)

Expulsion (article 32)

Non-refoulement (article 33(1))

Exceptions (article 33(2))

Diplomatic assurances

Extradition

Rights of asylum-seekers and refugees

Employment / Self-reliance (articles 17-19)

Housing, Land and Property (article 21)

Education (article 22)

Social welfare / Public relief (article 23-24)

Health

Other rights / Levels of attachment

Identity papers / Convention Travel Documents (articles 27-28)
C. Asylum and Migration
C.

Asylum – general

Access to territory and procedures

Asylum / Migration nexus

Smuggling / Trafficking

Asylum-seekers at sea / Maritime issues

Persons not in need of international protection / Return of persons who have had their asylum claim rejected / Re-admission agreements

National security / International crimes / Terrorism

Extraterritorial processing
D. Protection in Mass Influx Situations / Emergency Response
D.

Protection in mass influx situations / Emergency response – general

Temporary protection

Civilian character of asylum / Physical security of refugees

Armed conflict / Relations with the military

Camps

Registration
E. International Solidarity / Burden-sharing / Responsibility-sharing / Comprehensive Approach

E.
F. Specific Protection Priorities
F.

Women of Concern

Children of Concern

Older Persons and Persons with Disabilities

National, Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities and Indigenous Peoples

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex persons

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

HIV/AIDS

Age, Gender and Diversity

Protection of Civilians
G. Durable Solutions
G.

Durable Solutions – General (in relation to both refugees and IDPs)

Return, Voluntary Repatriation and Reintegration

Resettlement

Local Integration in the Country of Asylum

Family Reunification
H. Statelessness
H.

International legal instruments relating to nationality and statelessness

UNHCR's statelessness mandate

Guidance on specific aspects of UNHCR's mandate on identification, prevention, and reduction of statelessness and protection of stateless persons

Promotion of accession to the statelessness conventions
I. Internally Displaced Persons
I.

Normative framework on IDPs

Policy guidance regarding IDPs

Operational guidance regarding IDPs
J. Global Protection Cluster
J.

GPC guidance on IDPs

Protection Mainstreaming

Transformative Agenda
K. Displacement related to Climate Change and Disasters

K.
L. Human Rights

L.
M. Other Operational Guidance
M.

Data Protection

Relations with International Criminal Tribunals / ICC

Rule of Law

Partnerships and high-level agreements
N. Miscellaneous

N.

Inclusion (article 1A(2))

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UNHCR intervention before the Court of Justice of the European Union in the cases of Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel v. X, Y and Z

whether asylum-seekers can be expected to conceal their sexual orientation and/or gender-identity to avoid persecution and whether criminalization of consensual same-sex relations between adults can constitute an act of persecution

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 28 September 2012

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UNHCR intervention before the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in the case of RT (Zimbabwe) and others (Respondents) v Secretary of State for the Home Department

Avoidance of persecution by professing political allegiance to the persecuting State.

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 25 May 2012

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Note on Suspension of "General Cessation" Declarations in respect of particular persons or groups based on acquired rights to family unity

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: December 2011

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Summary Report, Informal Meeting of Experts on Refugee Claims relating to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 10 September 2011

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UNHCR statement on religious persecution and the interpretation of Article 9(1) of the EU Qualification Directive

on inter alia the meaning of persecution (paras. 4.1 – 4.2), religious persecution and the interpretation of Article 9(1) of the EU Qualification Directive.

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 17 June 2011

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UNHCR's Comments on the Practice of Phallometry in the Czech Republic to Determine the Credibility of Asylum Claims based on Persecution due to Sexual Orientation

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: April 2011

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Refugee Protection and Mixed Migration: The 10-Point Plan in action

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: February 2011

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UNHCR comments on the European Commission's proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection and the content of the protection granted (COM(2009)551, 21 October 2009)

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 29 July 2010

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UNHCR intervention before the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in the case of HJ (Iran) and HT (Cameroon) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department

whether asylum claims based on sexual orientation amount to well-founded fear of persecution according to the 1951 Convention; if and to what extent applicants can be expected to avoid persecution by hiding their identities.

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 19 April 2010

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Statement relating to Appeal Case UM 12033-09 before the Stockholm Migration Court (Availability of State protection in Iraq)

Availability and effectiveness of State protection when the agents of persecution are non-State actors.

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: January 2010

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