What is International Protection?
When states are unwilling or unable to protect their citizens a framework of international law comes into effect to ensure that individuals' human rights are safeguarded. The core of International Protection is the principle that people should not be forced to return to a country where their life or freedom would be endangered - a process known as refoulement.
The Protection Policy Team
The Protection Policy Team develops Refugee Council's policies on and responses to UK, European and international developments in refugee protection. We work with other NGOs and with government departments to ensure that the Refugee Council's knowledge of asylum in the UK is fed into broader debates.
Our main objectives are to:
- influence the UK, international and European agendas to ensure the highest standards of refugee protection.
- Raise awareness of the need for comprehensive action to address refugee producing situations, linking foreign policy, trade, development and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The project's main activities are to:
- follow the development of UK and EU asylum policy and other international protection developments;
- inform Refugee Council member organisations and other stakeholders;
- develop positions and responses, in consultation with our stakeholders;
- influence debates on refugee protection, working in close partnership with UNHCR, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) and others.
