Registration – A Sine Qua Non for Refugee Protection

Abstract

Identification, registration and documentation are a critical feature of our daily lives. Access to work, education, health care, and social benefits is severely constrained without the right papers. There are few people for whom papers are more crucial than for refugees. A refugee ID card often serves quite literally as a lifeline as it prevents the card holder from being deported to what can be a life-threatening situation. This chapter documents the key steps involved in identifying, registering and documenting refugees, ranging from rudimentary registration during mass outflows to sophisticated asylum determination systems. The chapter highlights the various functions of refugee registration and stresses the need for international refugee protection, provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Given the strong link between registration and data collection, the chapter presents concrete recommendations for strengthening data on the number and condition of refugees. These recommendations should be considered in light of the global compact for refugees that the General Assembly has agreed to develop by 2018.

The author served as head of statistics at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1993 to 2005.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations.