misinformation and unaffected by an absence of ongoing assistance and/or intentional
violations of the Refugee Convention forcing them to return. The state must additionally
provide guarantees of safety and non-discrimination.339 Similarly, the other two durable
solutions – integration and resettlement – cannot be enforced against the will of the refugee
concerned These solutions additionally require the consent of the relevant host country or
third state in order to be implemented.340
3.2.1. Human Rights Instruments and Refugee Protection
The Refugee Convention is grounded in norms of international human rights law (IHRL),
particularly in Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights which recognizes
the right of persons to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution in other countries. The rights
reinforced by IHRL that set out the minimum standards for the treatment of refugees, as
reflected in the Refugee Convention, include, inter alia, the right to non-discrimination,341 to
adequate housing,342 to freedom of movement within the territory of the host state,343 to
primary education,344 to freedom of religion,345 to access the courts,346 and to work.347 Crucially,
while the voluntary return of refugees is one of the durable solutions to the plight of refugees,
return is also a human right applicable to all persons,348 and is a necessary prerequisite to the
realization of self-determination.349
339
UNHCR, Handbook on Voluntary Repatriation: International Protection (UNHCR 1996), section 2.3 [hereinafter UNHCR,
Handbook on Voluntary Repatriation] <https://www.unhcr.org/publications/legal/3bfe68d32/handbookvoluntary-repatriation-international-protection.html> accessed 3 October 2022.
340
Susan Akram and Terry Rempel, ‘Temporary Protection as an Instrument for Implementing the Right of Return for
Palestinian Refugees’ (2004) 22(1) Boston University International Law Journal, 6 <https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/
papers.cfm?abstract_id=2461241> accessed 3 October 2022.
341
Charter of the United Nations (24 October 1945) 1 UNTS XVI (UNC), art 1 <https://treaties.un.org/doc/
publication/ctc/uncharter.pdf>; Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted 10 December 1948) UNGA Res
217 A(III), art 1 [hereinafter UDHR] <http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/> accessed 3
October 2022; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 23
March 1976) 999 UNTS 171, art 26 [hereinafter ICCPR] <http://www.un-documents.net/iccpr.htm>; International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (adopted 16 December 1966, entered into force 3 January 1976)
993 UNTS 3, art 3 [hereinafter ICESCR] <https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b36c0.html>; Refugee Convention
(n 330), art 3.
342
UDHR (n 341), art 25; ICESCR (n 341), art 11(1); Refugee Convention (n 330), art 21.
343
UDHR (n 341), art 13; ICCPR (n 341), art 12; Refugee Convention (n 330), art 26.
344
UDHR (n 341), art 26; ICCPR (n 341), art 18; ICESCR (n 341), art 13; Convention on the Elimination of all forms
of Discrimination against Women (adopted 18 December 1979, entered into force 3 September 1981) UNTS 1249,
art 10; Refugee Convention (n 330), art 22.
345
UDHR (n 341), art 18; ICCPR (n 341), art 18(1); Refugee Convention (n 330), art 4.
346
ICCPR (n 341), art 14; Refugee Convention (n 330), art 15.
347
UDHR (n 341), art 23; ICESCR (n 341), art 6; Refugee Convention (n 330), art 19.
348
UDHR (n 341), art 13(2); Refugee Convention (n 330), art 12(4).
349
BADIL, Self-Determination (n 89), 10-11.
74
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