UNHCR Note on Diplomatic Assurances and International Refugee Protection Contents Page I. II. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT......................................................................2 DIPLOMATIC ASSURANCES AND THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-REFOULEMENT ........................................................................................4 A. Protection against refoulement under international refugee law .......................................................................................................................4 B. Protection against refoulement under human rights law ..............................6 1. General considerations ...................................................................................6 2. Removal on the basis of diplomatic assurances .............................................9 C. Diplomatic assurances and the forcible removal of refugees or asylum-seekers ............................................................................................12 1. Refugees .......................................................................................................12 Removal to the country of origin or former habitual residence .................. 13 Removal to a country other than the country of origin or former habitual residence............................................................................ 13 2. Asylum-seekers ............................................................................................14 Removal to the country of origin or former habitual residence .................. 14 Removal to a country other than the country of origin or former habitual residence............................................................................ 15 III. DIPLOMATIC ASSURANCES AND REFUGEE STATUS DETERMINATION.............................................................................................16 A. General considerations ...................................................................................16 B. Diplomatic assurances with regard to asylum-seekers ................................16 C. Access to asylum procedures..........................................................................17 D. Diplomatic assurances and refugee status determination ...........................17 Protection Operations and Legal Advice Section Division of International Protection Services Geneva, August 2006 1

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