Unjustly exiled from their home country, refugees are persons forced to migrate to a new country for security and protection. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the UN refugee agency) legally defines refugees as “people who are outside their countries because of a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social group.”

The UNHCR reports that there are 20.8 million refugees and other people in need of protection worldwide. Out of that large number, nine million children are refugees.

The term refugee has been appropriated to encompass a host of people in various states of forced migration, including asylum seekers (people who flee their country and seek refugee status in another... (more)

Unjustly exiled from their home country, refugees are persons forced to migrate to a new country for security and protection. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the UN refugee agency) legally defines refugees as “people who are outside their countries because of a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social group.”

The UNHCR reports that there are 20.8 million refugees and other people in need of protection worldwide. Out of that large number, nine million children are refugees.

The term refugee has been appropriated to encompass a host of people in various states of forced migration, including asylum seekers (people who flee their country and seek refugee status in another country), internally displaced persons (people forced to relocate but who remain within their home country’s borders), and economic migrants (people who leave to find a better standard of living) -> [these could be roll-over definitions?]. Knowing the differences of terms is important because the reasons for relocation and the legal protections available after leaving are not the same. These inequalities are often a source of significant conflict in places where refugees, IDPs, and economic migrants live side by side.

With these large numbers of people, it’s easy to neglect the real human struggle that takes place for every individual whose home and safety is taken away from them. Every human being must have the right to find refuge in a foreign country, with the option to return home voluntarily, or resettle in another country.

The major aims for refugee rights groups continue to be: working against persecution of would-be refugees in volatile states; enforcing reluctant nations to provide asylum and protection; and equal rights and privileges for refugees as citizens of the receiving country. (wiki)