NIRMALA CONVENT SCHOOL, RAJKOT
NCS MUN, 2025
THE DEMOCRATIC SUMMIT
STUDY GUIDE
Agenda: Protecting the Rights of Refugees Worldwide
Committee: United Nations Human Rights Council
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
SR NO. TOPIC
1 Letter From The EB
2 Introduction
3 Who is a refugee?
4 Why do refugees need protection?
5 Who protects refugees?
6 UNHRC and the 1951 convention
7 Protection of Refugees
8 Working in Partnership
9 Conclusion
10 Bibliography and links for reference
Letter From The EB
Greetings Delegates!
On behalf of the Executive Board of the United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC), we extend our warmest welcome to the NCS MUN 2025!
We are thrilled to have you join a committee that thinks ahead of the world. We
thank you for joining in this productive stimulation of international diplomacy and
for the efforts you will put in this committee.
As delegates representing diverse nations and perspectives, you play a pivotal role
in shaping the discussion on protection of rights of refugees. Throughout
conference, we encourage you to engage with fellow delegates, explore creative
solutions, and demonstrate the spirit of diplomacy and compromise.
The agenda that set before us is both challenging and vital. From addressing the
rights of refugees and migrant to combating discrimination and promoting laws of
the UN charter as well as the Universal declaration of Human rights, which
promote freedom and speech and expression. The topic at hand requires
thoughtful consideration and reliable action.
As your executive board, we are foremost on toes for your facilities and always
ready to provide you necessary help any time. Feel unconfined to approach us for
any query, direction, concern or suggestions you may have.
This committee is yours, and the decisions you take are yours as well. Remember
to have fun and, at the same time, be the best diplomatic version of yourself.
Hence, we expect your best diplomatic tactics. Looking forward to a lively debate!
Regards,
Executive Board,
UNHRC,
NCS MUN 2025
INTRODUCTION
UNHCR was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950
to help millions of refugees in the aftermath of World War II. Since then,
as refugee problems spread across the globe, UNHCR has assisted in
solving refugee problems on every continent, earning two Nobel Peace
Prizes in the process – in 1954 and 1981. Today, UNHCR’s most
important function is international protection – making sure that
refugees are not sent back to the country they fled, and that their basic
rights are respected
WHO IS A REFUGEE?
According to Article 1A of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of
Refugees, a refugee is someone who: “is outside his or her country of
nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution
because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular
social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail
himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for
fear of persecution.”
WHY DO REFUGEES NEED PROTECTION?
Governments normally guarantee the basic human rights and physical
security of their citizens. When governments are unwilling or unable to
do so, individuals may suffer such serious violations of their human
rights that they have to leave their homes, their communities and their
families, to find safety in another country. Since, by definition, refugees
are not protected by their governments, the international community
steps in to ensure the individual’s rights and physical safety.
WHO PROTECTS REFUGEES?
Protecting refugees is the primary responsibility of States. Countries
that have signed the 1951 Convention are obliged to protect refugees
on their territory and treat them according to internationally
recognized standards. UNHCR’s main role in pursuing international
protection is to ensure that States are aware of, and act on, their
obligations to protect refugees and persons seeking asylum.
However, UNHCR is not a supranational organization and cannot be
considered as a substitute for government responsibility. UNHCR’s
role thus complements that of States and it contributes to protecting
refugees by:
• Promoting accession to, and effective implementation of, refugee
conventions and laws;
• Ensuring that refugees are treated in accordance with
internationally recognized standards of law;
• Ensuring that refugees are granted asylum and are not forcibly
returned to countries where their lives or freedom would be
threatened;
• Promoting appropriate procedures to determine whether or not a
person is a refugee according to the 1951 Convention definition
and/or other definitions found in regional instruments;
• Seeking durable solutions to the plight of refugees.
UNHRC AND THE 1951 CONVENTION
UNHCR serves as the guardian of the 1951 Convention and its 1967
Protocol. Signatory States are expected to cooperate with UNHCR in
ensuring that the rights of refugees as defined in the Convention are
respected and protected. These include:
• The right not to be returned to persecution or the threat of
persecution (the principle of non refoulement);
• The right not to be discriminated against in the grant of protection;
• The right not to be penalized for unlawful entry into or presence in
the country where asylum is sought, given that persons escaping
persecution cannot be expected to always leave their country and
enter another country in a regular manner;
• The right not to be expelled, except in specified, exceptional
circumstances to protect national security or public order;
• The right to minimum, acceptable conditions of stay, which would
include: freedom of movement, the right to education and to gainful
employment or self employment, access to public relief and
assistance including health facilities, the possibility of acquiring and
disposing of property and the right to obtain travel and identity
documents.
• Contracting States to the Convention are also expected to facilitate
naturalization of refugees by reducing legal and administrative
barriers to citizenship and to actively support family reunification for
refugees.
THE PROTECTION OF REFUGEES
The protection and care of unaccompanied children
Ensuring and maintaining children’s access to quality mainstream
education, with additional State support for their swift integration into
the school environment, remains at the top of UNHCR’s priorities. To be
fully achievable,this requires greater inter-departmental collaboration to
ensure that:
(i) children are promptly enrolled in schools shortly upon arrival;
(ii) their progress is regularly monitored, and
(iii) that their domestic environment is up to acceptable standards.
UNHCR’s role is to ensure that unaccompanied and separated asylum-
seeking and refugee children have effective access to the national
system with respect to accurate and timely identification, registration
and documentation; guardianship and legal representation; education;
adequate care and supervision; tracing and family reunification. For
these children, education is crucial. Participation in primary, secondary,
tertiary, catch-up, accelerated and other types of formal and non-formal
education programmes can foster social cohesion, address psychosocial
needs, and offer a stable and safe environment for those who need it
most. Education increases opportunities for self-reliance and provides a
sense of purpose, normalcy and continuity in otherwise unsettled
environments. Educated children and youth stand a greater chance of
becoming adults who can participate effectively in civil society in all
contexts.
The protection of refugee women
The protection of refugee women and girls is a core activity and an
organizational priority for UNHCR. Becoming a refugee is always an
ordeal, but for most women being a refugee is a double jeopardy.
UNHCR seeks to closely work with the government to ensure that the
specific needs of refugee women are met by building upon their own
resilience and strength, and helping them to overcome barriers to
education and employment, access opportunities and improve their
lives, as well as those of their children and families by promoting their
active participation and empowerment. The prevention of all forms of
sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and responding to the needs
of survivors within the wider framework of gender equality
mainstreaming and empowerment remains UNHCR’s priority area of
work. This requires systematic outreach activities to increase awareness
and improve knowledge among refugees and asylum-seekers on the
prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence. Similar
efforts are also required to strengthen response capacity at both
national and local levels for protecting and enforcing the rights of
refugee women and girls.
The protection of stateless persons
The international community has long recognized that every individual
anywhere in the world should hold a legal bond of nationality to a State.
Yet, there are today over 10 million people in the world without a
nationality of any State; Europe alone has over 600,000 stateless
persons. Some people are born stateless; others become stateless over
the course of their lives mainly because of discriminatory laws and
policies based on ethnicity or religion. In some countries women cannot
pass their nationality on to their children. Statelessness often means
that leading a life like others in society is just not possible, for example,
working legally, attending school, owning property or opening a bank
account. Stateless people are easy prey for labour or sexual exploitation.
UNHCR, as the UN agency entrusted by the United Nations General
Assembly with the responsibility to support States to prevent and
reduce statelessness and to protect stateless persons, has recently
launched a 10-year campaign to eradicate statelessness by the year
2024 through the collaborative efforts of States, civil society and
international organizations. A first step in these joint efforts is for States
that are not parties to the 1954 United Nations Convention relating to
the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the
Reduction of Statelessness to accede to these Conventions.
WORKING IN PARTERSHIP
The Government of Cyprus is UNHCR’s key partner in its mission to
ensure the protection of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons
in accordance with international and European Union standards. Over
the years, UNHCR has strengthened its partnership with various
Government ministries, especially those of the interior, foreign affairs,
justice, education and labour and social affairs. UNHCR has also
established constructive working relations and mutual co-operation with
the relevant Parliamentary committees, the Ombudsman and the Child
Commissioner.
NGOs and civil society: UNHCR has forged useful links with a number of
local NGOs and other members of civil society. At present, UNHCR has a
special partnership agreement with two NGOs:
• Cyprus Refugee Council, which provides free legal and social advice to
asylum-seekers and refugees in the Republic of Cyprus.
• SOS Children’s Village, a Turkish Cypriot NGO helping UNHCR address
the protection needs of asylum-seekers arriving in the northern part of
the island.
Other organizations involved in refugee support work include:
• Agapi is a voluntary organization in Limassol that supports people in
need, including refugees and asylum-seekers in Cyprus. The group
operates a Migrant Centre and a Charity Shop in Limassol and provide
food and clothes to 200 families monthly. They also offer free language,
sewing, computer, and arts and crafts lessons.
• Association of Recognized Refugees (Cyprus) aims to promote the
cause of refugees in Cyprus and provide a platform in which they can
present their skills and raise public awaress on how they can contribute
to Cypriot society.
• Caritas Cyprus Migrant Centres Caritas provides legal and social advice,
counselling and assistance to migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees.
The forgotten refugees
On 10 October 1998, a boat which had departed from Lebanon with a
group of 75 persons on board (47 adults and 28 children) accidentally
landed at Akrotiri, in the British Sovereign Base Areas on the south coast
of Cyprus. Their arrival prompted discussions between the Republic of
Cyprus and the UK regarding the interpretation of the 1960 Treaty. It
also raised the question of the applicability of the 1951 Convention
relating to the Status of Refugees to the SBAs.
Another 74 asylum-seekers arrived at the SBAs in late 2000 and at the
beginning of 2001. This led to increased efforts between the UK and the
Republic of Cyprus to hammer out a deal on responsibilities for asylum
seekers and migrants showing up at the SBAs. The negotiations led to a
Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, signed in
February 2003 and came into force on 1 May 2004 upon the accession
of Cyprus to the EU.
According to the MoU, the UK through the SBA would have
responsibility for asylum-seekers who arrive directly on the Bases, but
the Republic of Cyprus would have a delegated authority to determine
their asylum applications on behalf of the SBA. The Republic also
undertook to ensure the refugees and asylum-seekers access to the
national welfare scheme, health care, education and work, with the UK
indemnifying the government for the incurred cost. There is also a
provision in the MoU committing the SBA to seek resettlement in other
countries for the recognized refugees.
The 2003 MoU does not cover those who arrived at the SBA before its
entry into force in 2004. As a direct result, the first group of refugees
who arrived on the SBA in 1998, and their family members who joined
them or were born in the meantime, have found themselves caught up
in a legal limbo for nearly two decades. These refugees have been
trapped in this forgotten situation for far too long, eking out a meagre
existence and dependent on others to find solutions to their plight. They
have, albeit unsuccessfully so far, repeatedly appealed to the UK
authorities and tried several legal challenges before the SBA and UK
courts to secure their admission to the UK as the only viable solution to
their predicament. Their case is presently before the UK Supreme Court.
CONCLUSION
Dear Delegates,
As we conclude this discussion, it is clear that protecting the rights of
refugees worldwide is not just a legal commitment under the 1951
Refugee Convention but a collective humanitarian duty that transcends
borders. Refugees deserve access to safety, education, healthcare, and
opportunities to rebuild their lives with dignity. It is imperative that the
international community strengthens burden-sharing mechanisms,
combats xenophobia, and upholds the principle of non-refoulement to
ensure that no refugee is left behind. Let us remember that by
protecting refugees, we protect the core values of humanity and pave
the way for a more peaceful, stable, and inclusive world. Together,
through collaboration, empathy, and decisive action, we can transform
promises into protection for those who need it most.
Thank you.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
🌍 *UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees*
* The principal UN agency for refugee protection, policies, and statistics.
* *Website:* [[Link]
* Key pages:
* Refugee Convention (1951): [[Link]
[Link]]([Link]
* Global Trends Reports: [[Link]
trends]([Link]
🌍 *OHCHR – Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights*
* For refugee rights under human rights law, non-refoulement, and statelessness.
* *Website:* [[Link]
* Relevant page: [Human Rights of Refugees]([Link]
themes/refugees)
🌍 *UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)*
* For intersection of refugee rights with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16
(Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
* *Website:* [[Link]
🌍 *IOM – International Organization for Migration*
* Focuses on migration and displacement linked to refugee movements.
* *Website:* [[Link]
🌍 *ReliefWeb* (by UNOCHA)
* For up-to-date country-specific humanitarian reports and refugee crises data.
* *Website:* [[Link]
🌍 *UN General Assembly Documents*
* Search for resolutions related to refugees for past stances and clauses:
* *UN Documentation Centre:*
[[Link]
🌍 *Global Compact on Refugees* (Adopted by UNGA in 2018)
* For understanding international cooperation frameworks for refugee protection.
* *Link:* [[Link]
[Link]]([Link]
🌍 *Refworld (by UNHCR)*
* For legal documents, case law, and country-of-origin information relevant to
refugee protection.
* *Website:* [[Link]
These official resources will help you prepare *strong MUN research, country
policies, clauses, and statistics* while ensuring *accuracy and credibility* in your
arguments.