International Protection to refugees/asylum seekers/persons of concern to UNHCR

Through an extensive body of international law and treaties and by working with governments and other organizations on subjects ranging from promoting asylum systems to refugee advocacy, UNHCR promotes the legal protection of refugees and durable solutions.

Using the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention as its major tool, UNHCR's core mandate is to ensure the international protection of 19.2 million uprooted people worldwide. It promotes the basic human rights of refugees and that they will not be returned involuntarily to a country where they face persecution. It helps them to repatriate to their homeland when conditions permit, integrate into states of asylum or resettle in third countries. UNHCR promotes international refugee agreements, helps states establish asylum structures and acts as an international watchdog over refugee issues.

Since Pakistan is not a party to any of the refugee related international instrument and it also does not have legislation excluding asylum seekers and refugees from the provisions of this Foreigners Act with regard to illegal entry and stay or conferring appropriate status on them and allowing them to enter into a national refugee status determination procedure (RSD).

RSD is used as an exceptional protection tool designed to respond to compelling protection needs where Resettlement may be the appropriate solution. In Pakistan, RSD is conducted by UNHCR on the understanding that cases recognised under the mandate will be provided with an appropriate durable solution by the Office. Consequently, UNHCR assumes full responsibility for the determination of refugee status. RSD in Pakistan is carried out at the Offices in Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta.