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.

Family Reunification

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UNHCR Guidelines on international legal standards relating to family reunification for refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection

These Guidelines set out relevant legal standards concerning family reunification for refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection, in accordance with international and regional refugee and human rights law. The Guidelines first outline the right to family life and the principle of family unity as they apply to refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection and explain the concepts of family and of family reunification. They then address procedural requirements that may constitute obstacles to family reunification for refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection, including specific challenges for family reunification for children. Finally, the Guidelines discuss other specific issues related to family reunification, including restrictions related to mode of arrival, access to courts and travel documents.

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

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Discussion paper prepared for the Expert Roundtable on the Right to Family Life and Family Unity in the Context of Family Reunification

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 4 December 2017

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UNHCR intervention before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the case of Bringas-Rodriguez v. Lynch, Attorney General

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 22 February 2016

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Refugee Family Reunification. UNHCR's Response to the European Commission Green Paper on the Right to Family Reunification of Third Country Nationals Living in the European Union (Directive 2003/86/EC)

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: February 2012

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Note on Suspension of "General Cessation" Declarations in respect of particular persons or groups based on acquired rights to family unity

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: December 2011

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UNHCR Note on DNA Testing to Establish Family Relationships in the Refugee Context

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: June 2008

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UNHCR's Comments on the Amended Proposal of the European Commission for a Council Directive on the Right to Family Reunification (COM (2002) 225 final, 2 May 2002)

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: 10 September 2002

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Protecting the Family: Challenges in Implementing Policy in the Resettlement Context

Document source:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Date: June 2001

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UNHCR Protection Manual

Family Reunification

UNHCR Guidelines on international legal standards relating to family reunification for refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection

Discussion paper prepared for the Expert Roundtable on the Right to Family Life and Family Unity in the Context of Family Reunification

UNHCR intervention before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the case of Bringas-Rodriguez v. Lynch, Attorney General

Refugee Family Reunification. UNHCR's Response to the European Commission Green Paper on the Right to Family Reunification of Third Country Nationals Living in the European Union (Directive 2003/86/EC)

Note on Suspension of "General Cessation" Declarations in respect of particular persons or groups based on acquired rights to family unity

UNHCR Note on DNA Testing to Establish Family Relationships in the Refugee Context

UNHCR's Comments on the Amended Proposal of the European Commission for a Council Directive on the Right to Family Reunification (COM (2002) 225 final, 2 May 2002)

Protecting the Family: Challenges in Implementing Policy in the Resettlement Context

UNHCR Comments to the Commission Proposal for a Council Directive on the Right to Family Reunification (COM (1999) 638)

Family Protection Issues