United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has temporarily suspended voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from India after arrests of returnees in Sri Lanka.:
UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency, established in 1950 by the UN General Assembly to assist people displaced after World War II. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland with operations in 137 countries. Guided by the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol, which defines refugees and sets global standards for their rights and protection. It provides refugee protection, humanitarian aid, promotion of durable solutions (asylum, repatriation, integration, resettlement), and support to states in framing refugee policies under international law.1951 Refugee Convention & 1967 Protocol forms the foundation of international refugee law, defining a refugee as a person outside their home country, unable/unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution (based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group).It upholds the core principle of non-refoulement, ensuring refugees are not returned to danger, while granting rights to housing, education, work, and legal protection. Refugees must respect host country laws, though those guilty of war crimes or serious crimes are excluded from protection.
