Rethinking Refugee Law

Erscheinungsjahr 2003
ISBN: 978-90-411-2002-1
Verlag: Wolters Kluwer

Buch, Englisch, 176 Seiten, Gewicht: 417 g

Refugee law faces a serious crisis in Europe. This crisis highlights the need to explain the following questions: What is the relationship between refugee law and immigration policy? How much immigration do States need to tolerate for moral and practical reasons even if they do not wish any immigration?

The general legal principle of necessity offers a useful theoretical basis for refugee law. Necessity explains the conditions under which it would be unfair to fight off unwanted immigrants by deportation and punishment Necessity also explains the conditions under which a restrictive immigration policy is not feasible at a reasonable cost versus desperate individuals. It follows that necessity overrules a restrictive immigration policy and qualifies as a robust explanation of the purpose of a fair refugee policy.

This study explores the consequences of the theory of necessity for the interpretation of key concepts of refugee law (persecution, well founded fear, reasons of persecution, asylum) and concludes that a generous refugee practice can be conceived and logically justified even if a restrictive immigration policy is a political reality.

Zielgruppe

Research

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Internationales Recht und Europarecht Internationales Recht Internationales See-, Luft- und Weltraumrecht
• Rechtswissenschaften Internationales Recht und Europarecht Internationales Recht Internationales Strafrecht, Internationales Verfahrensrecht
• Rechtswissenschaften Internationales Recht und Europarecht Internationales Recht Internationale Menschen- und Minderheitenrechte, Kinderrechte
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Menschenrechte, Bürgerrechte

Über Autor(innen)

Niraj Natwani was born in Uganda, East Africa to a family of Indian origin. In 1972, all property was seized, all citizenship rights were withdrawn and all Asians were asked to leave the country on presidential decree of General Idi Amin. The family of the author found refuge in Austria. Between 1972 and 1976 the author was stateless. The author worked as an attorney in an international law firm in Vienna for three years. He currently holds the post of legal adviser of the Agency of the European Union dealing with racism and xenophobia.