The Status of Refugee and the Situations that Exclude its Acquirement

Abstract

At present, the refugees are broadly seen as persons that leave their country of origin due to pervasive violence or to serious social disorders or following to torture, inhuman or degrading treatments to which they are exposed to. As opposed to other persons that leave their country of origin due to their own decisions, the refugees are forced to leave the country they are citizens of because their lives and fundamental rights are threatened. They benefit from a special legal status; their rights and obligations being governed by the international law and especially by the United Nations’ Convention related to the Status of the Refugees from 1951. The same Convention also includes provisions regarding several persons that, although they satisfy the characteristics of the refugees as they are mentioned in its articles, are removed from receiving the status of refugee, being considered unworthy, due to their conduct and to extremely serious crimes sanctioned at international level, which they have perpetrated. This study presents the deeds for which a person will be excluded from the right to obtain the status of refugee.