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.

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UNHCR's Expert Witness Testimony before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Hearing in the case of Pacheco Tineo vs. Bolivia

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 19 March 2013

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Expert opinion of UNHCR on issues of the right to work for refugees and asylum-seekers in the case of [South African Somali Association vs Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism] in the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, South Africa

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 14 March 2013

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Council Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004 on Minimum Standards for the Qualification and Status of Third Country Nationals or Stateless Persons as Refugees or as Persons Who Otherwise Need International Protection and the Content of the Protection Granted

Document source:
European Union: Council of the European Union
Date: 30 September 2004

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Smuggling and Trafficking from the East and Horn of Africa: Executive Summary

The UNHCR Strategy suggests targeted interventions to address the protection needs of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons affected by smuggling and trafficking in the region, through coordination and partnerships for a regional and solutions-oriented approach. It further notes that collaborative national and regional action with States, mandated organisations and key stakeholders is considered the best way forward to address the various stages of the phenomenon.

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: March 2013

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Guidelines on Statelessness No. 4: Ensuring Every Child's Right to Acquire a Nationality through Articles 1-4 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 21 December 2012

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IASC Non-Binding Guidelines on the Use of Armed Escorts for Humanitarian Convoys

Document source:
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
Date: 27 February 2013

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Challenges relating to climate change induced displacement

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 29 January 2013

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Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

Document source:
European Union (EU)
Date: 26 October 2012

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UNHCR Protection Manual

UNHCR's Expert Witness Testimony before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Hearing in the case of Pacheco Tineo vs. Bolivia

Expert opinion of UNHCR on issues of the right to work for refugees and asylum-seekers in the case of [South African Somali Association vs Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism] in the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, South Africa

Council Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004 on Minimum Standards for the Qualification and Status of Third Country Nationals or Stateless Persons as Refugees or as Persons Who Otherwise Need International Protection and the Content of the Protection Granted

Smuggling and Trafficking from the East and Horn of Africa: Executive Summary

Guidelines on Statelessness No. 4: Ensuring Every Child's Right to Acquire a Nationality through Articles 1-4 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness

IASC Non-Binding Guidelines on the Use of Armed Escorts for Humanitarian Convoys

Challenges relating to climate change induced displacement

Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

Operational Guidance : Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Programming for Refugee Operations

Tip Sheet for Field Protection Clusters