A refugee is a person that is compelled to leave his place of habitual residence in order to seek refuge outside his country of origin or nationality due to persecution, war, conflict, violence, severe human rights violations, events seriously disturbing public order, or other reasons that have made it impossible or dangerous for him or her to remain.
Refugees are individuals who have crossed an internationally recognized border and have been forced to flee their home countries due to circumstances beyond their control, and who require protection and assistance to find safety and security in another country. Refugees are formally defined and protected under international law, including the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, other regional and national legal frameworks, as well as international customary law.
As defined under international law, refugees have certain rights and protections, including the right to seek asylum in another country, the right to protection and assistance, and the right to not be returned to a country where they would face persecution or harm. The principle of non-refoulement prohibits states from returning refugees to countries or territories in which their lives or freedom may be threatened.
In practice, however, refugees often face significant challenges and risks, including the risk of being denied access to asylum, being subjected to discrimination and exploitation, forcible removal, including deportation, expulsion, extradition, and facing poor living conditions in refugee camps and settlements.
Refugees are distinct from internally displaced persons (IDPs), who have been forced to flee their homes but have not crossed an internationally recognized border and remain within their own country. Refugees are also distinct from migrants, such as migrant workers, who choose to leave their home country for better economic opportunities, and who are not recognized under international law as refugees.