CRR: Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951 (entered into force 1954), and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1966 (entered into force 1967)

This Convention defines a refugee as someone who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of her/his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to avail her/himself of the protection of that country. The CRR enumerates many rights that refugees must enjoy, the most important being their right not to be returned to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened on one of the grounds of persecution recognized. Countries must at least accord to refugees the same treatment accorded to other aliens in their territory and, in many instances, the same protections and rights as nationals enjoy. Unfortunately the CRR does not recognize sex or gender persecution as a ground for recognizing refugee status, but some countries do recognize 'women' as a 'particular social group' for the purposes of the Convention.