Browse Hierarchy SOLM171: International Refugee Law

This module examines the international law dimensions of protecting refugees and other categories of forced migrants. It provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts and workings of international law, in general, and international refugee and human rights law, in particular, as they relate to the phenomenon of forced displacement. While international refugee law forms the backbone of the course, the module will also cover aspects of international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and the law of the sea as these apply to refugees and other forced migrants. The module will start by studying the historical origins and development of refugee law up to its codification in the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol. The institutions tasked with overseeing the implementation of these instruments will also be examined, with particular focus on UNHCR and its evolving role through time. The study of substantive law, including State practice and case law of national and international courts and Treaty bodies, will follow thereafter, following ten thematic blocs: 1) the refugee definition (inclusion, exclusion, and cessation of refugee status); 2) the status of Palestinian refugees; 3) non-refoulement and complementary forms of protection; 4) status determination procedures; 5) the content of international protection and other 'durable solutions'; 6) access to asylum; 7) war and displacement; 8) 'climate refugees'; 9) poverty, destitution and 'survival migration'; 10) and the ethical roots of refugeehood, to be taught in 3-hour blocs from Week 2 to 11.