The 1951 UN Convention refugee definition is of singular importance because it has been subscribed to by more than 100 nations. It is the only refugee accord which is global in scope. This paper is an attempt to explain the scope of the Convention refugee definition as drafted, and as it has evolved in practice. While this definition was not intended to, and does not in fact, address the whole concerns which prompt involuntary migration, a generous interpretation of the Convention can go some distance to meeting the needs of at least the most acutely at risk populations outside the borders of their own nation. It remains tragically true that international human rights law - the intended means of permitting the world community to respond to wrongs committed by a country within its own territory - has not been permitted to evolve to a state of genuine efficacy. The paper strives to elaborate a clear, contextually sensitive understanding of the Convention refugee definition as it has evolved through confrontation with the needs of contemporary involuntary migrants.

In recent times much has been written on the humanitarian issues and the legal aspects of refugee protection. Some historians have focused on the issue of forced human displacement and on the development of international approaches to the problem. The historian Eric Hobsbawm attempted to address the issue of forced displacement in the second half of the 20^th century from the historical point of view.

The problem of forced displacement in not new and the governments, international organizations and the public have been quite aware of the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced persons. Efforts are being made to minimize their sufferings and to protect them on legal and human rights considerations.

It is evident from history that people had to abandon their homes and flee to safer places to escape persecution, armed conflict or political violence. This has been happening in every region of the world. Most of the religious traditions provide for humanitarian concepts of extending hospitality to the people in distress, which include asylum, refuge and inviolable shelter. Historically, the protection was localized and ad hoc in nature, which did not have uniform universal standards.

The League of Nations was formed after the First World War and for the first time the issue of refugees was considered as an international problem, which had to be tackled at the international level. Western influence prevailed upon in the development of refugee law that was established through a series of events rather than because of some general global influence since the early 20^th century. A large number of High Commissioners were appointed by the League of Nations to deal with different refugee groups of Russians, Armenians and Germans but none of the arrangements lasted for long. Separate bodies were set up to deal with European, Palestinian and Korean refugees. The League of Nations decided to form a single authority in place of different High Commissioners on September 30, 1938, which was termed as High Commissioner for Refugees for a five-year tenure.

International Relations Journal, International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, International Refugee Organization, IRO, Organization of American States, OAS, EXCOM, UN Refugee Convention, Foreign Policy, Humanitarian Refugees, Customary International Law, Refugee law, Economic Migrations.