The concept of the term ‘refugee’

In 1936, when the Provisional Agreement concerning the Status of Refugees coming from Germany was adopted, the same course was followed: the term refugee covered all persons coming from Germany. The definition of the term refugee was not established by the adoption of the 1967 Refugee Protocol, which created a more or less complete correspondence between the mandate of the UNHCR and treaty law. From a legal point of view, only the African states and the Organization of African Unity have drawn the conclusion that it is necessary to adapt the definition of the term ‘refugee’ to present needs. On the whole it covers, however, the actual need and it is an attempt to describe in legal terms the refugees/displaced persons, assisted through the good offices of the UNHCR. In addition some countries apply a restrictive interpretation of the term refugee in the Convention, but do return or expel those denied Convention refugee status