Is Turkey a signatory to the Refugee Convention?

The Republic of Turkey is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol, maintaining the geographical limitation to the 1951 Convention, thus retaining resettlement to a third country as the most preferred durable solution for refugees arrived due to the events occurred outside of Europe.

What did the 1951 Refugee Convention do for refugees?

The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention or the Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951, is a United Nations multilateral treaty that defines who a refugee is, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant …

Why was the 1951 Refugee Convention important?

The 1951 Refugee Convention was drawn up in the wake of World War II to protect Europeans, who were forced to flee their homes. A key part of the treaty makes it clear that refugees have the right not to be sent back to a country where they face threats to their life or freedom.

Why do refugees go to Turkey?

Syrians are leaving their country, primarily, to escape violence, poverty, and lack of access to basic services because of the ongoing war in Syria since 2011. So Syrians come to Turkey because it is easier to reach Turkey. …

How many refugees did Turkey accept?

Turkey continues to host the largest number of refugees worldwide, with close to 4.1 million refugees, including 3.7 million Syrians and nearly 400,000 asylum-seekers and refugees of other nationalities.

Is the 1951 Refugee Convention binding?

The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol are the key legal documents that form the basis of our work. This is now considered a rule of customary international law. UNHCR serves as the ‘guardian’ of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol.

Is the 1951 Refugee Convention legally binding?

The Refugee Convention was adopted at a United Nations conference on 28 July 1951 and became legally binding on 22 April 1954. It was originally designed to respond to the needs of European refugees in the years following World War II. The Protocol became legally binding on 4 October 1967.

Where do refugees stay in Turkey?

Of all of Turkey’s cities, Istanbul is the largest host of Syrian refugees: 15.7% of Turkey’s Syrian refugees are registered there (approximately 485,227). Generally, refugees settle in areas of Istanbul where the urban poor are clustered (Erdogan, 2017).

Why is Turkey a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention?

The Republic of Turkey is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol, maintaining the geographical limitation to the 1951 Convention, thus retaining resettlement to a third country as the most preferred durable solution for refugees arrived due to the events occurred outside of Europe.

Who is the guardian of the 1951 Refugee Convention?

UNHCR serves as the ‘guardian’ of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol. According to the legislation, States are expected to cooperate with us in ensuring that the rights of refugees are respected and protected. Read the Refugee Convention.

When did the UN Refugee Convention come into force?

The Convention was adopted on 28 July 1951; in accordance with Article 43, it entered into force on 22 April 1954. The Protocol was adopted on 31 January 1967; it entered into force on 4 October 1967 in accordance with its Article VIII. States Parties (as of April 2015)i Total number of States Parties to the 1951 Convention:

When did Turkey start to take in refugees?

In November 1994, Turkey passed regulations on the treatment of asylum seekers. The regulations give the Turkish government the task of status determination of non-Europeans and lay down procedures to determine this status in accordance with the refugee definition in the Refugee Convention.