Social Sustainability
Refugee
Definition
A refugee, under the 1951 Refugee Convention, is a person outside their country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. Complementary protection extends to those fleeing generalized violence and disasters; tens of millions of people currently hold refugee or refugee-like status.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Refugee” is defined and used.
Source imported for editorial provenance.
Overview
How it is used
The term structures international protection (UNHCR mandate), asylum law, humanitarian response, and the growing discourse on climate-linked mobility including the Platform on Disaster Displacement.
Why it matters
How the world defines and protects displaced people will be tested severely by climate change; the refugee framework is the anchor of that protection architecture.