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.

Claims in the context of climate change and disasters

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Protection of Persons Displaced Across Borders in the Context of Disasters and the Adverse Effects of Climate Change: A Review of Literature, Legislation and Case Law to Support the Implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees

A review of State practice to provide international protection based on international and regional refugee and human rights law or to provide admission and stay based on migration law to persons displaced across borders in the context of disasters and adverse effects of climate change demonstrating growing consensus on the need to protect such persons through national and regional applications of these three areas of law, but indicating that the use of these tools is limited, often random, hard to predict, and neither harmonized nor well-coordinated.

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 27 June 2024

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Climate change impacts and cross-border displacement: International refugee law and UNHCR’s mandate

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 12 December 2023

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Legal considerations regarding claims for international protection made in the context of the adverse effects of climate change and disasters

This document sets out key legal considerations concerning the applicability of international and regional refugee and human rights law when cross-border displacement
occurs in the context of the adverse effects of climate change and disasters.

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 1 October 2020

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Legal considerations on refugee protection for people fleeing conflict and famine affected countries

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 5 April 2017

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