Definitions
Our working definition of “refugee”
Vision First maintains that a “refugee” is any person who seeks temporary refuge in Hong Kong, either by claiming asylum at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), or by claiming they would be subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment if returned to their country of origin, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Torture (CAT). We make no legal distinction between “refugee” and “asylum-seeker”, which is generally understood as a person who claims asylum but whose claim has yet to be definitively evaluated. As a welfare agency serving individuals who may access either one or both the UNHCR or the CAT mechanisms, our definition of refugee therefore encompasses asylum-seekers, UNHCR recognized refugees, and CAT claimants.
Who is a refugee?
The 1951 Refugee Convention describes a refugee as someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group; a refugee either cannot return home or is afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.
Who is an IDP?
An internally displaced person (IDP) is a person who has been forced to flee his or her home for the same reason as a refugee, but remains in his or her own country and has not crossed an international border. Unlike refugees, IDPs are not protected by international law or eligible to receive many types of aid. As the nature of war has changed in the last few decades, with more and more internal conflicts replacing wars among countries, the number of IDPs has increased significantly.
Who is a returnee?
A returnee is a refugee who has returned to his or her home country. The majority of refugees prefer to return home as soon as it is safe to do so, after a conflict and the country is being rebuilt. UNHCR encourages voluntary repatriation, or return, as the best solution for displaced people. The agency often provides transportation and other assistance, such as money, tools and seeds. Occasionally, UNHCR helps rebuild homes, schools and roads. Since 2002, more than five million Afghans have returned home.
Who is a stateless person?
A stateless person is someone who is not a citizen of any country. Citizenship is the legal bond between a government and an individual, and allows for certain political, economic, social and other rights of the individual, as well as the responsibilities of both government and citizen. A person can become stateless due to a variety of reasons, including sovereign, legal, technical or administrative decisions or oversights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights underlines that “Everyone has the right to a nationality.”
Who is an asylum seeker?
When people flee their own country and seek sanctuary in another country, they apply for asylum – the right to be recognized as a refugee and receive legal protection and material assistance. An asylum seeker must demonstrate that his or her fear of persecution in his or her home country is well-founded.
What is the difference between a refugee and an economic migrant?
An economic migrant normally leaves a country voluntarily to seek a better life. Should he or she decide to return home, they would continue to receive the protection of his or her government. Refugees flee because of the threat of persecution and cannot return safely to their homes.