Who are refugees and other forced migrants?

This chapter defines who refugees are. Persons recognized as refugees are individuals who have fled persecution and conflict in their home country and no longer enjoy the legal protections afforded to citizens of a state. As a consequence, the 1951 Refugee Convention stipulates that refugees should be protected and should have access to national courts, the right to employment and education, and a host of other social, economic, and civil rights on a par with nationals of the host country. The chapter then looks at the differences between refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), and why they leave their home countries. Together, they are referred to as forced migrants.